Should Britain join the Euro?

[El Presidente]

Shame you don't know when to use capital letters in the mother tongue of the island you inhabit then Looney.

There are insufficent merits to join the Euro at the present time, especially in relation to the lack of synchronisation of the UK economic cycle and that of the rest of Europe.

Given our political relationship with you know who I suspect we may start using the dollar soon though, we are effectively the 51st state already.

 

[alan partridge]

I'm not. I live on an Island not a continent.

Are you claiming to not be a part of the European race then Looney?

 

[Spiros]

On the face of it, adopting the Euro looks a good idea - makes life easier for importers/exporters and tourists/travellers. In the long term it is another way in which countries lose their own identity and - more importantly - lose a lever of control on their economy. We particularly need control over interest rates because of the high levels of home ownership - and thus mortgages - compared to the rest of Europe.

Interest rates are a key control of inflation - as it is the single interest rate for the whole of the UK doesn't always suit the North and the South so how is a single interest rate across Europe going to suit us at the same time as Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Greece, etc? Answer: it isn't. It will always be a messy compromise, like most other things which are controlled at the centre instead of allowing suitable decisions at the levels which will be the most effective.

Keep the pound, like they should have kept the Franc, Peseta, Mark, etc

 

[alan partridge]

I am willing to look at all the economic arguments but can we please stop all the identity crap.

It's money.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

I'm not. I live on an Island not a continent.

An island that is part of the continent of Europe. I see your understanding of geography is as good as your understanding of politics and economics.

 

[Seagull73]

We should be more interested in getting all other parts of our integration into Europe finalised and the Euro is the one of the last things to happen.

Germany and France are suffering with their economies because they can't do anything themselves to put it right (interest rates, etc), and the whole of Europe is under huge pressure economically because of the states that have recently joined.

There's no point in joining something that at this point in time struggles to cope with the countries it's got. Throw Britain and it's huge economy into the equation, and who knows what may happen?

 

[dougdeep]

Never. We've to much to lose.

 

[The Large One]

What, like our *ahem* manufacturing base? The *ahem* current surplus of skilled labourforce? Our *ahem* inward investment?

 

[mona]

On the cultural identity aspect, I'm all for England/Britain keeping its culture but the anti-EU mob are hell-bent on turning us into part of the USA.

 

[Robot Chicken]

There's no point in joining something that at this point in time struggles to cope with the countries it's got. Throw Britain and it's huge economy into the equation, and who knows what may happen?

I agree, the UK has the 4th largest economy in the world. Let's wait 10 years or so.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

It seems we're going round in circles on this subject !

My prediction ....

Majority for the Euro with a few ( mainly Strike, me and Looney ) against.

A few right wing and left wing insults.

Loads of - isn't it great when do don't have to change your money when you go on holiday.

Oh - I like Europe but I stongly disagree with the EU so can we stop mixing the two up !!

Europe - a continent whos inhabitants are European ( except Looney ! )

EU - a corrupt, expensive and undemocratic organisation.