They said the Government could expect gathering pressure to put the document to a people’s referendum.

The Prime Minister was also accused of ducking out of any vote on the issue tonight because he’s still out of the country after visiting China and India.

Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague noted Mr Brown’s failure to attend the EU leaders’ official treaty signing ceremony in Portugal in December.

He said: “Gordon Brown clearly knew when he decided to hold this vote on Monday night that he would be away at the time.

“It could just as easily have been held last week or later this week. So the Prime Minister who was prepared to sign the EU Treaty but not in front of the cameras is now the Prime Minister who wants to ram the treaty through Parliament but not vote for it himself.

“Across Europe people are doubting that Gordon Brown has either courage or conviction, but it now seems he does not have much of either.”

But what do YOU think? Is Gordon Brown avoiding the issue of an EU treaty? How do you feel about the Prime Minister's handling of the situation?

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