Euro vote and election 'on same day'

Patrick Hennessy12 April 2012

TONY BLAIR is facing increasing pressure from inside his Government to take the bold step of staging a referendum on the euro on the same day as the next General Election.

The move would prevent the Prime Minister from having to call a risky vote on ditching the pound in a year or two, with public opinion still largely against joining the new currency. Pro-euro ministers are urging Mr Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown to consider the radical step as the best way of maximising the chances of a 'Yes' vote.

They argue Labour supporters voting for a third successive term of office would see it as a loyalty test. Such a move would be unprecedented and not without risk because it would allow the Tories to turn the election campaign into a simple battle over the single currency. Supporters of the 'same day' argument claim this was effectively what William Hague tried to do last June - and led his party to a second successive landslide defeat.

Staging a euro referendum on the same day as a General Election, possibly in spring 2005, would mean polling followed a blockbuster European summit in 2004 which will aim to 'widen and deepen' the EU. Mr Blair could campaign on a platform of joining Europe in its new era. By contrast, not signing up to the currency could mean risking decades on the sidelines.

A Treasury assessment of whether Britain has passed the five economic tests will dictate whether a referendum is called. This must be completed by June 2003 with some pro- euro figures claiming a referendum could be held as early as next year.

Others, close to the Chancellor, are arguing he could take a 'middle way', announcing the results of the assessment, claiming some hurdles to British membership still exist and promising a fresh study, again to be completed within two years. That would then permit a 'same day' referendum and General Election in 2005.

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