British Cabinet Splits over Euro Entry: Newspaper

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, May 12, 2003

British Cabinet Splits over Euro Entry: Newspaper

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The British government's fragile public unity over the euro was shattered Saturday as a cabinet minister challenged Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown's policy on the European single currency, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.

Helen Liddell, the Secretary of State for Scotland, became the first Cabinet minister to attack openly the Chancellor's forthcoming verdict, which is based on the Treasury Ministry's self-imposed economic tests on benefit of the euro entry, that Britain is not yet ready to enter the euro.

"We could have a situation in which 24 countries are in one currency and we are in another. That has implications for inward investment, in jobs and we need to specify what that cost could be," Liddell was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

"This is probably one of the most momentous decisions we are going to make. It should be for the whole Cabinet. It cannot simply be delivered to us by the Chancellor like the Budget," she said.

Ministers in favor of rapid entry to the euro disclosed that Liddel's remarks, which she will amplify in a speech Monday in Edinburgh, had been authorized by Prime Minister Tony Blair's office as part of a final push to force Brown to leave open the option of entering the euro, the newspaper said.

This development came as Brown is to publish the Treasury's assessment of the economic tests for euro entry before June 7.

Brown is under growing pressure from the pro-euro lobby to set a date for a referendum on the issue.

In an interview to a local television program on Sunday, Brown responded to concerns from the pro-euro camp that he would supportBritain's euro membership under the right economic circumstances.

"I have always been pro-Europe. And by history, by geography, by economics we are very much part of Europe," he said.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Britain to Reshape Armed Forces for High-tech War

Britain Warns France of Consequences of its Stance over Iraq

British Manufacturing Set to Cut 68,000 Jobs in First Half of 2003

US Asks UN to Approve Iraq Occupation ( 4 Messages)

Chinese Premier on Importance, Difficulty of SARS Control in Rural Areas ( 5 Messages)

"Shenzhou V" Spacecraft to be Launched as Scheduled ( 3 Messages)

Wu Yi on Value of Traditional Medicine in SARS Treatment ( 2 Messages)