(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in Britain deny that the current economic crisis has made them consider adopting the euro, according to a poll by Communicate Research released by the BBC. 64 per cent of respondents disagree that they are now more likely to want Britain to use the common European Union (EU) currency.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in Britain deny that the current economic crisis has made them consider adopting the euro, according to a poll by Communicate Research released by the BBC. 64 per cent of respondents disagree that they are now more likely to want Britain to use the common European Union (EU) currency.
In addition, 51 per cent of respondents also disagree with the notion that Britain benefits overall from membership of the EU in terms of jobs and trade, 55 per cent say Britain should leave the EU but maintain close trading links, and 64 per cent think the British people should decide in a vote before Britain transfers any further power to the EU.
The euro has been used in 12 European Union (EU) countries since January 2002. At the time, Britain, Sweden and Denmark were the only EU members that did not adopt the currency.
Since 2007, defaults on so-called subprime mortgages—credit given to high-risk borrowers—in the United States caused volatility in domestic and global financial markets and ultimately pushed the U.S. economy into a recession. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. The crisis has affected the global financial and credit systems, and triggered layoffs in companies around the world.
Britain has been hit hard by the global financial crisis. In 2007, the British Northern Rock bank—a prominent mortgage lender—was forced to seek emergency funding from the government. Brown’s administration has intervened to save bankrupt banks and boost the economy. In November 2008, prime minister Gordon Brown introduced a "shock-treatment" stimulus package to jump-start the country’s economy through tax cuts, increased government spending and a greater role in government lending. The package was valued at $31 billion U.S.
Earlier this month, opposition Conservative party leader David Cameron announced that his group would abandon the European People’s Party-European Democrats group (EPP) in May. Cameron said that the British Tories disagree with the EPP’s views, which include advocating for closer integration in Europe in matters of economy, immigration, defence and foreign policies, and said his party will seek to create a new group to contest the European Parliament election later this year.
Hans-Gert Poettering, a German member of the EPP, called the British Tories’ decision to leave the group "a serious mistake," adding, "The big parties should belong to a European family of parties. [This] is not in the interests of the UK."
Polling Data
Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
|
|
Agree |
Disagree |
Not sure |
|
The current economic crisis has made me more likely to support Britain joining the euro |
31% |
64% |
5% |
|
Britain benefits overall from membership of the European Union in terms of jobs and trade |
44% |
51% |
5% |
|
Britain should leave the EU but maintain close trading links |
55% |
41% |
4% |
|
The British people should decide in a vote before Britain transfers any further power to the EU |
64% |
13% |
3% |
Source: Communicate Research / BBC
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,004 British adults, conducted from Mar. 13 to Mar. 16, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
