UK OPINION POLL: BIG MAJORITY SAY UK EMU ENTRY IS INEVITABLE
LONDON (MktNews) - No fewer than 80% of British voters believe it is inevitable the U.K. will join the single European currency regardless of whether or not they think it is a good idea, according to a Gallup public opinion poll published in the Daily Telegraph Tuesday.
The poll of 1,051 electors undertaken between December 16 and 22 shows that 80% believe it is inevitable, 16% believe it is not, and 4% said they did not know or refused to give an answer.
The poll also revealed that a large majority of voters believe the U.K. government has already made up its mind about what to do about the euro. Some 73% said Prime Minister Tony Blair's government has made up its mind, only 19% said it had not, and 5% said they did not know or refused to answer. Even more emphatically, 87% of those polled said the government should say now what its stance was, and only 9% said it should not.
The poll reveals a conflicting range of views about the desirability of EMU. Asked whether Britain should join the euro after a period waiting to see if it works, 56% said this was the best approach, while 21% said the U.K. should state now that it does not want the single currency. Some 20% said Britain should move towards joining the euro as soon as possible.
Asked if there were a referendum on joining the euro, 60% said they would oppose it, 34% said they would vote in favour, and 6% said they did not know or refused to answer. In 1996 those opposing the euro were 56%, and supporters were 26%.
Asked if there was a danger Britain would lag behind the rest of euroland outside the euro, regardless of preference, some 61% said there was a risk, 33% said there was not, and 6% said they did not know. --London newsroom: 00 44
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05:04 EST 12/29
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