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15/09/2003
Tories turn on Blair after Sweden rejects euro entry
The Tories have dismissed the Prime Minister’s chances of “railroading” the UK into the EU single currency as a "dead duck", following Sweden's "No" vote on the euro.
Following the referendum at the weekend, the Swedish people voted 56.3% to 41.7% against membership of the single currency, Shadow Chancellor Michael Howard called on Tony Blair to “abandon his pro-euro strategy” and focus on public services.
He said: "I am pleased for the people of Sweden and I hope the lesson which will be drawn in this country is that people will realise that the question of whether Britain should join the euro should be seen for the dead duck that it is. I hope that our government will now concentrate on putting right its failures on hospitals, schools, and law and order which matter so much to the people of our country."
Mr Howard, stressing the importance of fiscal autonomy, said: "If the people of Sweden want high taxes, they should be entitled to vote for that through their democratically-elected government. And crucially, the central banks of Sweden and the UK should be free to set interest rates on the basis of what is best for the economies of those countries, rather than accept a single European interest rate which is doing such dreadful damage to so many countries in the EU. Any question of a referendum in the near future, certainly in this Parliament, is a dead duck."
The Shadow Chancellor said the big question was whether issues affecting people's lives should be decided by democratically-elected governments in their own countries, or imposed by the EU.
"The Swedes have given a clear answer to that question. I think the people of our country will give a clear answer if they are ever asked in a referendum on the euro," said Mr Howard.
Following the vote, Downing Street has restated its position that the government would consider its five economic tests on convergence before deciding whether to put the question of joining the eurozone to a referendum. The Prime Minister's Official Spokesperson said that the Swedish result was a matter for the people of Sweden and would not influence the government's economic assessment.
(SP)
Following the referendum at the weekend, the Swedish people voted 56.3% to 41.7% against membership of the single currency, Shadow Chancellor Michael Howard called on Tony Blair to “abandon his pro-euro strategy” and focus on public services.
He said: "I am pleased for the people of Sweden and I hope the lesson which will be drawn in this country is that people will realise that the question of whether Britain should join the euro should be seen for the dead duck that it is. I hope that our government will now concentrate on putting right its failures on hospitals, schools, and law and order which matter so much to the people of our country."
Mr Howard, stressing the importance of fiscal autonomy, said: "If the people of Sweden want high taxes, they should be entitled to vote for that through their democratically-elected government. And crucially, the central banks of Sweden and the UK should be free to set interest rates on the basis of what is best for the economies of those countries, rather than accept a single European interest rate which is doing such dreadful damage to so many countries in the EU. Any question of a referendum in the near future, certainly in this Parliament, is a dead duck."
The Shadow Chancellor said the big question was whether issues affecting people's lives should be decided by democratically-elected governments in their own countries, or imposed by the EU.
"The Swedes have given a clear answer to that question. I think the people of our country will give a clear answer if they are ever asked in a referendum on the euro," said Mr Howard.
Following the vote, Downing Street has restated its position that the government would consider its five economic tests on convergence before deciding whether to put the question of joining the eurozone to a referendum. The Prime Minister's Official Spokesperson said that the Swedish result was a matter for the people of Sweden and would not influence the government's economic assessment.
(SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
