This would decide the election

This story would scupper any chance of a Labour fight back, even under a new leader. If ratification of Lisbon is postponed and the Tories can run with their pledge to hold a referendum on it, a lot of small party voters will switch and abstainers will turn out to ensure they can have their call on the Lisbon Treaty. It will also damage the Lib Dems who ducked out of being fearless democrats on the issue.