Blair reiterates determination for euro referendum before election

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 29, 2003

Blair reiterates determination for euro referendum before election

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British Prime Minister Tony Blair reaffirmed Sunday that he would keep the option open over a referendum on joining the European single currency before the end of this parliament ahead of the opening of his ruling Labor party's annual conference.

Blair said Britain would not be influenced by a Swedish rejection earlier this month of euro membership.

"We should keep the option open," Blair told BBC Television, "Let us as a country decide when we want to exercise that option. I don't see any point, irrespective of what happens in Sweden, of ruling anything out. Let's keep our options open. That's what we'll do."

Britain's next parliamentary election is expected in 2005. It is widely believed that because of the eroding of the public confidence in his leadership owing to the Iraq war and the negative results of Swedish referendum, the future of letting the public to decide whether to join euro before the next parliament is at risk.

But Blair expressed his determination not ruling out a referendum, echoing his remarks earlier this month right after the Swedes voted "no" in its referendum on whether to join.

"It is important that we keep the option of joining the single currency open for the reasons I've given," he said at that time.

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