It certainly appears to me that the UK will perform the transition to the Euro "à la Americaine". They will let the Euro run in parallel with the Sterling and hope that some day, miraculously, the entire population will speak out in one voice: "We want Euro! We want Euro!" (Yeah, right!)
Instead, the achievement will be another hodge-podge similar to the American metrication. Having to deal with two "wallets" the population will turn even more against the Euro and new "martyrs" will rise to fight the EU integration. Adrian ----------------------- kilopascal wrote: 2001-12-30 Euro will be UK second currency, says Kinnock THE euro will be in use in Britain within weeks and will soon be as readily accepted in the high street as sterling, according to Neil Kinnock, Britain’s most senior official in Brussels, writes Nicholas Rufford. On the eve of the launch of euro cash in 12 countries, Kinnock predicted the notes and coins would become a second currency in Britain faster than expected, regardless of whether it replaced sterling officially. Kinnock, a European commissioner and one of Tony Blair’s advisers on euro strategy, said most high street stores, as well as banks and building societies, would “accept euros as easily as they do pounds and pence”. His remarks are a departure from the usual efforts by the European Union to remain neutral regarding Britain’s relationship with the euro. Kinnock was roused by what he regarded as unfair criticism of the new currency. “People will quickly realise that when they touch a euro their fingers will not drop off, despite the attempts of anti-Europeans to portray it as some sort of dreadful plague,” he said. He added that it was not a case of whether Britain joined the euro but when. “The case for Britain being in the euro is exactly the same as the case for Britain being in theEuropean Union,” Kinnock added. The pound would remain Britain’s official currency until a referendum on the euro and most transactions would be in sterling until then, but the euro would become a popular alternative currency, he said. Critics said Kinnock’s remarks were evidence of a government plan to bring the euro to Britain through the back door. “By the time Blair gets round to asking the British people, the euro will be a foregone conclusion,” said one critic. The emergence of the euro as a second unofficial currency is being quietly pushed by the government. The Department of Trade and Industry has set up 12 regional euro forums to promote the currency to small businesses. Helplines and government literature advise businessmen from shopkeepers to manufacturers that accepting the euro will soon be in their best interests. The government has admitted to spending £23m preparing for the euro changeover. Michael Howard, the shadow chancellor, accused the government of a policy of “euro creep”. He added: “I don’t think it is acceptable that public money is being spent on euro preparations. A lot of that is being used for propaganda.” Copyright 2001 Times Newspapers Ltd. This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard terms and conditions. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from The Times, visit the Syndication website. -- _______________________________________________ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup 1 cent a minute calls anywhere in the U.S.! http://www.getpennytalk.com/cgi-bin/adforward.cgi?p_key=RG9853KJ&url=http://www.getpennytalk.com
