I can't figure out why Tony Blair has decided to go ahead with a referendum on the proposed EU Constitution. It did occur to me that this decision will make his life harder. But, it will also make life difficult for the French & Germans too.
First, the government can influence the referendum vote for a yes as much as it deems it worthwhile. If the Germans & French make life hard for Blair, his government can sit back and stay "neutral" while the euro-sceptics make all the running. This would almost certainly see the referendum fail.
Second, the German and French governments are sure to come under a lot more pressure from their own electorate for a similar referendum. Neither of these governments, especially the Germans, would want this because the outcome is uncertain.
Could this "most humiliating about-turn of his career" actually be a slap at the German and French governments?
