Blair: No euro vote for foreseeable future
Britain is unlikely to adopt the single currency for the foreseeable future at least, the Prime Minister has said.
Tony Blair said present economic conditions were unsuitable to recommend a referendum on the euro.
“At the moment it doesn’t look very likely, does it, because the economics aren’t in the right place,” he told Sky TV yesterday.
“If the economics aren’t right, if it won’t help your country economically, you don’t do it.
“Now, at the moment there is no part of business and industry clamouring to say we need this for our economy, so it doesn’t look very likely.”
Mr Blair suggested the pencilled-in referendum on the European Union’s treaty next year could be shelved if French votes said no to it next month.
“If what was to happen was France was to say ‘no’ and then the rest of Europe were to tear up the constitution and say we’re forgetting about it, you wouldn’t have a (vote) on nothing,” he said.
“But if there is a constitution, there is a vote.”
The Treasury insists Gordon Brown’s much-heralded five economic tests must be met and observed before the Government proffers a referendum to voters.
Mr Brown said the results must be “clear and unambiguous”.
