Original sentence: The rejection of the treaty to establish a constitution for the European Union by France and the Netherlands presented Blair with an opportunity to postpone the doubtful UK referendum on the constitution without taking the blame for failing the EU
Edited sentence: He then capitulated anyway in December 2005, making himself a laughing stock and perhaps the best British Prime Minister France has ever had.The rejection of the treaty to establish a constitution for the European Union by France and the Netherlands presented Blair with an excuse to postpone the UK referendum on the constitution, which he was sure to lose, without taking the blame for failing the EU