Euro No Campaign suspended
British Eurosceptics have announced that they are halting the campaign against joining the single currency following chancellor Gordon Brown’s Budget statement.
Mr Brown stated that he would look again next year at the Treasury’s “five tests” of the British economic interest.
Opponents of the euro believe that the 2004 Budget rules out a referendum on British membership of the EU common currency until at least 2008.
The No Campaign’s steering committee will continue to monitor events, but no paid staff will remain in post.
No Campaign chairman Nigel Smith said: “It is our judgement there is no chance of that referendum being called in the near-future and it is right to end active campaigning.
“We have built the broadest coalition of people opposed to joining the euro – including representatives of six political parties. In a way we have been a victim of our own success”.
The No Campaign was formed in September 2000 from Business for Sterling and New Europe.
The pro-single currency Britain in Europe campaign has already scaled down activities, though a skeleton staff remains in place. The organisation recently appointed a new director, Lucy Powell.
The No Campaign’s decision comes as the campaign for a referendum on the European constitution continues to build.
A number of European leaders hope to reach a consensus on the constitution during an EU summit on 17th and 18th June.
Prime minister Tony Blair is facing increasing calls for a referendum on the constitution from opposition MPs and sections of the media. The government is reportedly keen to get the constitution issue out of the way before the next general election.
