That could, at a stretch, drag things out until next spring, and a British general election (though Gordon Brown can wait until June 2010 if he wants to).

ECONOMIST: European politics

With a British general election to be called in the first half of 2010, Lisbon supporters fear that Mr Klaus may withhold his signature long enough to leave Lisbon in limbo until a Conservative government takes power in Britain.

ECONOMIST: Ireland and the Lisbon Treaty

The Conservatives' coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats, have traditionally been the most pro-European of the major UK political parties and the coalition agreement drawn up after the 2010 general election states "we will ensure that the British government is a positive participant in the European Union".

BBC: 'Strong turnout' at new eurosceptic Conservative group