Stop the euro dilly dallying

Stop the euro dilly dallying

Several finance directors in this week's Big Question survey highlighted the fact that the issue of the euro seems to have a low profile in the general election campaign so far.

‘Nobody will dare mention joining the euro club and losing the pound,’ said one, obviously frustrated at the impact that being excluded from Euroland has on his overseas customers and suppliers.

These comments give weight to the main findings of the survey – that the real needs of business are being ignored in the campaign.

The findings came as the main parties unveiled their business manifestos, as usual peppered with promises to cut red tape and, from the Tories, to abolish various taxes, such as IR35 and the aggregates tax.

But any sensible debate over such issues was quickly stifled by tit-for-tat rows over whether the various parties had done their sums correctly.

BBC business reporter Jonty Bloom argues that in these comfortable times the Tories are unlikely to be able to land a knockout blow on Labour when it comes to the economy, and that it is the euro issue which the party can use to set it apart from its rivals.

While it is true that the euro is probably not very high up on the public agenda, jobs and long-term economic stability are.

Politicians should stop pussy-footing around and try to debate the impact any decision to go into or stay out of the euro will have on these things which are so close to voters’ hearts. And in a sensible non-jingoistic manner.

The answers may not be easy or obvious, but we should not be so British as to ignore something so important just because it is too difficult and uncomfortable an issue.

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Election 2001

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