71% Against Britain Joining the Euro

A BBC poll has found that 71% of people would vote against Britain joining the euro if it were put to a referendum. The survey of 1,000 adults revealed that just 23% would vote "yes" to joining the European single currency, while 6% said they were unsure.

Only 15% said the recent fall in the value of the pound against the euro made them more likely to vote "yes", while 69% said it made no difference.

Sixteen countries now use the euro, which was introduced 10 years ago. Slovakia became the latest country to start using the currency on New Year's Day. Similar surveys carried out by the BBC in past years show how the pattern of support for the euro has changed. The last time it was this least popular was in November 2000, when 71% were opposed to it and just 18% were in favour. At its most popular in January 2002, 31% of people said they would vote "yes" to joining, while 56% opted for "no".

Last month, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said the UK was "closer than ever" to joining the euro and that the "people who matter" in British politics were contemplating giving up the pound.

But Labours Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said that while joining was still the government's long-term policy aim, such a move was "not for now".

Meanwhile, the shadow foreign secretary told the Daily Mail newspaper that the Tories under David Cameron "would never join the euro".But have the Conservatives' ever used the word "never" with respect to the euro in any election manifesto ? NO !

The UK Independence Party which wants Britain to withdraw from the European Union, burned a bundle of euro notes outside the Bank of England today to mark the single currency's 10th birthday. Dr John Whittaker, UKIP MEP for the North West, said the credit crunch had now exposed the euro's "real weakness".

"While all economies are suffering, some eurozone countries are now in an impossible position," he said. What these countries need is lower interest rates and devaluation but, stuck in the euro, there is nothing they can do."

There was a very strong media interest today from the BBC,SKY,PA + several others.PA did interview with Michael Mcgough and then Gerard. Tomorrow is a low news day so hoping for some coverage the press boys were very happy.