The Euro

[whotheheckami]

Not the most scintillating subject but:

Do you think Gordon Brown was right to postpone the decision to offer the electorate a referendum on Britain adopting the euro?

Comments

[robthefish.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there will be loads in the papers today about what the 'five economic tests' actually are... but aren't they just a political device that can be claimed to have been 'failed' until it suits the politicians to join the Euro?

Haven't we already been 'preparing' for about 6 years or something?

Re:

[whotheheckami.livejournal.com]

Undoubtedly, they are political tests and were chosen with great care for maximum apparent objectivity whilst remaining totally subjective. Sadly, Tony Blair has been on the losing horse with the euro ever since he was forced by John Major's government to make a referendum on the euro a manifesto pledge. This government may have neatly side-stepped or totally avoided a number of manifesto pledges, but there was no way the press were going to let him quietly avoid a euro referendum. Consequently, I can see very little chance of Britain adopting the euro in the next 5-10 years.

[robthefish.livejournal.com]

And then look what Blair's done today with his 'cabinet re-shuffle'. Abolishing institutions left, right and centre. I don't know how 'democratic' government is supposed to work but this seems wrong.