Euro question published
The Government will ask the British electorate the question “Should the United Kingdom adopt the euro as its currency?” in a future referendum on the single currency.
The Government yesterday published the all-important question, encompassed in the draft Single European Currency (Referendum) Bill, in a Written Ministerial Statement.
The Bill said the question would only be put to the nation after both the Cabinet and both Houses backed the move.
Analysts forecast that successful passage of the bill in Parliament could leave the Government with the opportunity to hold a referendum early after the next general election.
The bill also gives the Government the option of concurrently holding other elections along with the referendum, leaving open the possibility of a vote on the euro on general election day.
The Treasury insists no referendum will be held until all of its “five economic tests” have been met.
The Tories said the timing of the publication of the short bill was intended to “bury bad news” in the Chancellor’s pre-Budget report.
Alan Duncan MP, Tory spokesman on Constitutional Affairs, said: “The Government are back to their old tricks of trying to ‘bury bad news’. The proposed referendum question breaches Electoral Commission guidelines on fair wording.
“It makes no mention that the Pound would be replaced if people vote ‘yes’. A fair question would make clear the implications for our existing national currency.”
