BLACKBURN MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the new European Constitution was "good for Britain and good for Europe'' as Tony Blair started his campaign to sell it to the British people.

Mr Straw said: "We are delivering a flexible Europe," and confirmed that the referendum on the constitution would take place in 2006.

Other East Lancashire MPs have mixed views on the issue.

Hyndburn's Greg Pope said: "This is a great deal for Britain. Staying in the European Union, especially one built to meet Britain's needs, is vital to jobs and the economy of Hyndburn and East Lancashire.''

Burnley MP Peter Pike said: "Obviously I need to look at the detail but the Prime Minister and Mr Straw appear to have secured a constitution that will be good for jobs and regeneration in our area.''

As Eurosceptic Labour MPs formed a group to opposed the constitution, Rossendale and Darwen's Janet Anderson was cautious: "There is a long time before the referendum on the constitution is placed before the British people. I shall need to study the document carefully before deciding whether to support or oppose it.''

And Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle was tougher still but fell short of backing the Labour rebels. He said: "I am a strong believer in the powers of Westminster to make decisions for the British people. But this is not a matter for me but for voters to decide in the referendum.''

The North West's new Liberal Democrat Euro-MP, Sajjad Karim, also backed the new treaty, but Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "It's a sell-out. Mr Blair should put this constitution to the British people in a referendum in three months and he will lose it.''