The Times – 22 June 1998

Try as he may to complicate the issue, Peter Riddell cannot escape the fact that British public opinion is overwhelmingly hostile to the euro.

Between May 28 and June 3, Gallup asked a thousand voters: "If there were a referendum on whether or not to abolish the pound in favour of a single European currency, would you vote yes or no?"

Whilst 33 percent answered "Yes", 65 per cent answered "No" and 2 percent were undecided. Conservative voters opposed the euro by 76 percent to 23 percent, Labour voters by 58 percent to 39 percent and Liberal Democrat voters by 65 percent to 33 percent – the same as the overall average.

This shows that pro-EMU politicians are pressing ahead in defiance of the will of a heavy majority of their own party supporters. Opponents of this dangerous and undemocratic policy will be ensuring that the views of the ignored majority are properly publicised and represented in the press and Parliament.

Dr JULIAN LEWIS MP
House of Commons
London SW1