Britons back euro, NOP poll suggests
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Your support makes all the difference.The Government would win a referendum on the euro if it came out in favour of British membership of the single currency, an influential poll showed yesterday.
Britons would vote narrowly to abolish the pound provided the Government said its tests for the euro were met and the country's leaders campaigned in favour of joining.
An NOP poll for the investment bank Barclays Capital found that under those conditions, 40 per cent would support UK membership of the euro, and 39 per cent would vote against.
Barclays said it was the first time an independent UK survey had found a majority in favour of the euro. Opposition to entry without government backing also softened. A net balance of 27 per cent would oppose joining, compared with 31 per cent last month.
"It is very clear from our research that there has been a major shift in attitudes towards the euro in the last few months," David Hillier, Barclays Capital's chief UK economist, said.
The poll triggered a fresh row between the lobby groups on either side of the euro debate. Britain In Europe said the launch of euro notes and coins had reduced opposition. The No Campaign said it was always possible to get a "funny result" from a hypothetical question. "The public are two to one against, despite distorted media coverage of the euro launch being a success," a spokesman said.
Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, became the latest cabinet minister to back the euro. In a speech on the manufacturing industry, she said the pound's exchange rate against the euro was "causing difficulties" for British firms.
"The potential benefits of euro membership in terms of trade, transparency, costs and currency stability lead us to support it in principle," she said.
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