Dutch Labour Party will not allow a Referendum on the EU Treaty.

The Dutch Labour party (PvdA) will not allow its voters a Referendum on the EU Treaty. Their stance exactly mimics that of Gordon Brown and our Labour Party. An opinion poll by Maurice de Hond, indicated that 77% of those questioned believed the cabinet was against a referendum because ministers were afraid the Dutch would again vote 'no'.

In a move that looked like he and Gordon Brown shared the same spin doctor, Labour parliamentary leader Jacques Tichelaar said: 'This treaty is fundamentally different to the constitution rejected in 2005.' However the Dutch Labour Party had said it would support a referendum during last year's election campaign - does that sound familiar?

Opposition MPs described the decision as 'political suicide'.

I hope they are right, the Dutch Labour Party should pay for going back on such a massive election promise - and so should ours.