Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Britons Reject Euro Again, But May Reconsider

May 16, 2003

Three EU member states are not using this coin yet.

Abstract:

(CPOD) May 16, 2003 - The trend of opposition to the Euro in Britain continues, according to a poll by YouGov. 43 per cent of respondents say they would definitely vote against the adoption of the European currency if a referendum were held tomorrow.

The Euro has been used in 12 of the 15 European Union (EU) countries since Jan. 1, 2002. Sweden, Denmark and Great Britain are the only current EU members that have not adopted the currency.

Chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown will publish a government report on the Euro on Jun. 9. Prime minister Tony Blair is expected to push for a national currency referendum before the next general election in 2006.

The views of Britons may shift if their government makes a good case. The number of respondents that would definitely vote against joining is reduced by 15 per cent, if Blair and key business leaders eventually convince the public that the Euro would be positive for the country. Setting aside their own opinions, 49 per cent of respondents expect Britain to adopt the currency sometime in the next five years.

Polling Data

If a referendum on whether Britain should join Europe's single currency were held tomorrow, how would you vote?

Definitely vote to join

15%

Probably vote to join

19%

Probably vote against joining

17%

Definitely vote against joining

43%


Suppose a referendum on the Euro were held next year or the year after, and the prime minister and business leaders argued strongly that joining would be good for the country. How would you vote then?

Definitely vote to join

21%

Probably vote to join

26%

Probably vote against joining

17%

Definitely vote against joining

28%


Leaving aside your own opinion, do you think Britain will join the Euro?

Within the next five years

49%

In five to 10 years

26%

Eventually, but not in the next 10 years

11%

Never

8%


Source: YouGov
Methodology: Interviews to 2,456 British adults, conducted from May 9 to May 12, 2003. No margin of error was provided.