PETER HAIN was accused of
insulting more than half the country last night after telling
a French daily newspaper that the enemies of the euro were the
enemies of Europe.
The Europe Minister, increasingly audacious in his
interpretation of the Government�s careful stance on the euro,
suggested that a referendum could come as early as spring next
year and that within 2 years after that Britain could be a
full member.
Mr Hain, who appears to have been given leeway by Downing
Street to bang the euro drum, particularly to overseas
audiences, set out a precise timetable by which Britain could
sign up.
But his remarks appeared to cause nervousness in the
Foreign Office and irritation at the Treasury, where Gordon
Brown is refusing to accept that entry to the euro is a
foregone conclusion. An official said: �Different
interpretations can be put on different speeches, but what is
certain is that nothing has changed.�
Michael Ancram, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, said that Mr
Hain was hectoring and blustering in an attempt to bully the
British people into joining the euro.
�He has insulted 70 per cent of the country, people who are
happy to co-operate with the rest of Europe but who are
determined to keep control of their own jobs and mortgages,�
he said. �The remarks are a crude attempt to steamroller the
British people into taking a leap into the dark.�
Mr Hain set out the formal position that Gordon Brown would
deliver his verdict on the five economic tests between this
autumn and next spring. He added that if there was a positive
decision it would take Parliament about four months to
legislate for the referendum. He said that between the
Government�s decision and the referendum there would be a
six-month period.
Interviewed by Le Figaro, Mr Hain said: �I am not
saying that the euro is inevitable, but the alternative to its
adoption is an isolation which is anything but splendid.
�The enemies of the euro are also the enemies of Europe.
What they want is purely and simply the withdrawal of the
United Kingdom from the European Union and an association with
the American bloc.�
Arguing that the success of the euro�s launch last month
had confounded critics, he said: �It would be an enormous
gaffe for the United Kingdom, a tragedy even, to rule out
joining for ever, as the Conservatives want to.�
Yesterday the Britain in Europe (BiE) group circulated
documents showing that leading Tory eurosceptics were backing
a campaign in Malta against the country joining the EU. Among
those who have given support to the Campaign for National
Independence in Malta are Daniel Hannon and Roger Helmer, the
Conservative MEPs, as well as Lord Lamont of Lerwick, the
former Chancellor, and Lord Tebbit, the ex-Tory
chairman.
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