"UNAMBITIOUS" EURO JUDGEMENT WILL DAMAGE UK, SAYS CLEGG
5.41.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th Jun 2003
Reacting to Gordon Brown's assessment of the 5 economic tests for joining the Euro, Nick Clegg, MEP for the East Midlands and Lib Dem Trade and Industry spokesman in the European Parliament, said:
"The tragedy is that the damaging consequences of yet more dithering and ambivalence from Gordon Brown and Tony Blair will only become fully evident when it is too late to undo the damage done to British interests. "
"Gordon Brown and Tony Blair dramatically underestimate the cumulative effects on the British economy and on British influence in Europe of yet more procrastination on the Euro.
"Whilst a more positive assessment of the Euro from Gordon Brown is welcome, as are the announced steps to further enhance UK convergence with the euro zone, none of this is an adequate replacement for a democratic vote in referendum by the British people. "
"This absurd charade between Blair and Brown, which continues to deprive British voters of a say, cannot be allowed to continue.
"Pro Europeans of all parties must swiftly reconsider their support for a cross-party approach with the Government given the poverty of ambition displayed in today's announcement."
ENDS
Contact: Nick Clegg 07775 876978, Ailsa Bishop 0115 846 0660/07855 173313
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