Anti-Euro Mood Hardens Among Britons

July 31, 2002
by Lea Paterson and Gary Duncan

PUBLIC support for UK membership of the euro is ebbing even though more than a third of the population has now used the new European notes and coins.

A poll for Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) revealed that opposition to the single currency has risen sharply in Britain, dealing a blow to pro-euro campaigners who had hoped that familiarity with the new notes and coins would fuel enthusiasm for UK entry.

The survey of 1,000 adults, conducted for CSFB by Martin Hamblin GfK, showed that just 35 per cent now believed the UK should join the euro in the next two to three years. This was down from 42 per cent in January. The proportion opposed to entry rose from 46 per cent at the start of the year to 55 per cent, according to the poll conducted earlier this month.

The hardening attitude comes despite the fact that 35 per cent of the population have now used the new currency. Robert Barrie, chief UK economist at CSFB, said: “A further increase in (euro) use over the summer might be associated with an increase in support, but that’s not been the pattern so far.”

The poll comes against a backdrop of increasing antieuro sentiment on the Continent. Anger at euro-related price rises have caused resentment in Germany, where surveys suggest that more than half of the population want to switch back to the mark.

Pro-euro campaigners, however, maintained that greater exposure to the euro would change UK attitudes. Simon Buckby, campaign director of Britain in Europe, said: “When people go to the eurozone they can see that anti-European scares simply aren’t true.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5-370023,00.html