Voters to approve any “reshaped” relationship with EU: Osborne

Dropping hints of a British referendum on Europe, chancellor of exchequer, George Osborne said any "reshaped" UK relationship with the EU needed to be approved by British voters.

The chancellor's comments come as eurozone leaders debate moves towards a deeper political union in response to the crisis affecting the single currency.

According to Conservative MPs, the crisis would mean changes in the way the EU worked, changes that should trigger a referendum in the UK.

The coalition has promised that any move to transfer greater power from Westminster to Brussels would be put to a referendum.

Osborne was responding to a question during a BBC Radio Four interview, as to whether a ''reshaped" British relationship with the EU should be put to voters.

He replied, "A reshaped relationship with Europe would imply, would involve, a transfer of sovereignty or powers from the UK to Brussels.''