The No campaign has regained the lead in the run-up to France's referendum on May 29, as voters ignore warnings about the damage that would be caused by rejection of Europe's constitutional treaty.

The latest opinion polls show that an increasing proportion of respondents say France could renegotiate a better treaty after a No vote. According to a poll conducted on May 14 by Ipsos, that view is now shared by 61 per cent of respondents, up nine points on the week before.