Debate Selling the euro Do former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke's pro-euro arguments convince you?
timesonline.co.uk
May 17, 2002
KENNETH CLARKE’S article (Comment, May 15) makes interesting reading but, aside from a vague (and incorrect) reference to inward investment into Britain, he puts forward no arguments why Britain should join some of our European partners in economic and monetary union.
I would love to see a pro-euro politician of Mr Clarke’s undoubted reputation and ability put forward both the economic and political arguments, point by point. Hopefully, this would produce a rejoinder from an anti-euro politician of similar standing. Now that really would be a useful contribution to the euro debate. Come on, Mr Clarke — why should Britain join EMU?
Martin Briggs, Orpington, Kent
Holding on to sovereignty
WHETHER millions of Britons returning from their summer holidays in Europe like the euro or not is, of course, not a reason to throw away the pound. Kenneth Clarke did not give us the economic proof that the euro has worked for the average European. Wherever it was introduced prices went up, economic independence disappeared and I don’t see the economies of northern and southern Europe being in such great shape today.
However, far more worrying, the speedy integration of European countries into a “United States of Europe” has provoked a backlash with the move to the far Right all over Europe. The Europeans are not yet ready to ditch their sovereignty and identity. Britain has not failed to rise to the challenge, it saved Europe from itself only half a century ago.
I. Engelsman, London
Bastards no longer
WELL said, Ken Clarke. I especially enjoyed “It would be totally wrong for pro-Europeans to undermine the party leadership as our Eurosceptic opponents undermined John Major in the 1990s”. As Major referred to them as “bastards”, perhaps the new group should informally call themselves the “legitimates”.
Stephen Archer, Harlow, Essex
Wishful thinking
IF EVER a wish was the father to the thought it is surely Kenneth Clarke’s belief that Britain is warming to the euro. His evidence for this wishful thinking is as suspect as his knowledge of the Maastricht treaty and if it is based on the GGC/NOP poll claiming that 41 per cent of the public is in favour of joining he needs reminding that surveys are designed to produce the result required by those who commission them. It is most unlikely that the poll on euro membership commissioned by the Prime Minister’s private pollsters is an exception to this rule. They need to keep their jobs.
John Leefe, Newbury
Insulting our intelligence
LIKE all politicians, Mr Clarke is unable to consider that he might be wrong. That’s why most people despise them. I have spoken with many German and Dutch people and, whether they agree with economic union or not, when asked if it means you are no longer a separate nation, they say it does. One Dutchman said that that is the point of joining.
So, please, would all those who are pro-euro stop saying it’s only a currency change and that being against joining is anti-Europe. I admire, respect and like most things in the 15 EU member states but I don’t want Europe running our economy. For the pro-euro lobby to win the argument they will have to have the courage to convince people that a United States of Europe is a good thing and is better than independent nation states. Don’t insult our intelligence by telling us we can have both.
Peter Tipton, Wilmslow, Cheshire
Learning from experience
MR CLARKE bravely declares: “The changeover to the euro has been a resounding success. . .” I wonder how he comes to this conclusion? Has he not, like all of us, been watching what is going on in Germany, France and The Netherlands? Isn’t it possible that there is a connection between the despair of voters as they turn to the right wing parties and the high-handed introduction of the euro with no opportunity for a referendum? Mr Clarke might usefully read Anatole Kaletsky (Economic View, May 14) in which he discusses the current labour problems in Germany. “German unions,” Kaletsky says, “seem to have learnt nothing from the experiences of reunification and monetary union which have transformed Germany from an economic powerhouse into the sick man of Europe.” And finally: “The euro has locked Germany into a permanently overvalued currency from which there is only one escape: a big reduction in German wages relative to the rest of Europe.” Some success!
Murray Park, Nottingham
The spurious five tests
IT IS profoundly irritating when politicians treat the electorate in such a patronising manner using terms like “when they get used to it”. The endeavour should be to present the political and economic arguments for and against joining; as it is, all we have are the seemingly spurious tests proposed by Gordon Brown which, even he, apparently, does not have enough confidence in to allow scrutiny by those who might be supposed to understand them for what they are.
Barbara Hindle, Malaucène, France
The euro is our future
THE euro is now the second most important currency in the world after the dollar. As the EU expands and the new member states adopt the euro it may become the world’s biggest currency. It will certainly be vastly more important than sterling. Trying to belittle the euro by calling it weak or puny shows an inaccurate and irrationally hostile attitude to something that is destined to become an important player in trade, finance and politics. Through complacency and a lack of sensitivity towards irreversible economic trends the UK has, in the past, lost out to more forward-thinking nations. I hope the UK joins the euro while there is still time to help to shape its evolution in ways beneficial to the British economy.
Michael Dunkerley, Cheltenham
Yes to Europe, no to euro
KENNETH CLARKE has launched his informal group for Conservative pro-Europeans to work together. Will there be a place in it for pro-European Conservatives like me? I agree wholeheartedly with Mr Clarke that our national interests are best served by “constructive engagement with our European partners” but I cannot ever envisage circumstances where I would vote for Britain to become a member of the eurozone.
Robert Ingle, Leicester
Failure to convince
I READ Kenneth Clarke’s article hoping that, at last, someone was going to explain to me the advantages of the single currency. Hesays people perceive a fall in inward investment. Is that it? If the pro-Europeans only rely on returning holiday makers to swing the debate they may be in for a surprise. The Eurosceptics have done a good job in getting their views across and the people with positive views on Europe will need to hear equally compelling arguments.
Paul Rogers, Dorset |
