"Why cannot the British Government just come out with it? They are frightened of the answer they will get if they ever allow the British people a choice on the nation's future," said Gerard Batten MEP.

"The proposals from the Germans and the French are clearly a reintroduction of the Constitution that was so forcefully rejected by the peoples of France and Holland", he went on, "and the Government promised that we would be given our say too (a UK Referendum). Now it is seems they are back tracking with this refusal to commit to the referendum previously guaranteed.".

Mr Hoon was addressing the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee in Brussels this evening and failed to answer repeated questions from Euro MPs on the Government's position.

"He is scared, there is nothing more to it than that. But to continuing dodging the issue is not good enough. UKIP will hold him to the Government's promise," said Mr Batten.

Mr Hoon maintained the, "current position of holding a referendum on this Constitutional Treaty", but he did admit,  "that the future of the Treaty depends on the outcome of the French Presidential election".

This obviously gives him and his government wriggle room, as it is obvious that this Constitutional Treaty will not be offered to the people of France and Holland, but rather different Constitution. He made no guarantees that the UK Government would honour its previous pledge.