Comments on: Few British cheers for euro amid crisis

By: DamnedContinentalForeigner

DamnedContinentalForeigner — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:45:43 +0000

The fact is, that by now, most continentals would disapprove of Britain joining the Eurozone. We took the risk, it was hard at the start, but it is paying off noww. Joining at this moment would cost you extra. In spring there was a short documentary on Dutch television with snobs from London’s financial center boasting that the world was in their hands, that Frankfurt could be neglected and so on. Politically, Britain has brought Europe very little positive. The Rover is an unreliable car, British management of globalized companies is irresponsibly cynical and the behavior of Brits during holidays on the continent is appalling. So, I agree with British Eurosceptics. You stay where you are, we stay where we are and everything is hunky dory.

By: Major Thom

Major Thom — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:59:04 +0000

There is no doubt that he pound has been humiliated by the Euro over the past ten years and will continue to be. It was unfortunate to have someone with a very UK parochial outlook like Gordon Brown as chancellor.

Yet I can’t believe that if Tony Blair really wanted the Euro he could not have made it happen given his popularity and persuasive powers.

And it was odd that Gordon Brown sold the gold reserves and bought Euro bonds with much of that cash if he did not believe in the future of the Euro.

Vanity?

By: stephen cole

stephen cole — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:49:27 +0000

The pound will be worth 1.40 Euro by next September. Then we should rename it the Yo Yo.

By: Mick

Mick — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:25:26 +0000

Let’s keep it simple - I have heard ad nauseam all the arguments about the Euro - I don’t want it - in fact I don’t want to be drawn into Europe any further than at present. I believe the vast majority of fellow Brits feel exactly the same: that is why the government will not hold a referendum on the Euro, EU membership, or anything else about Europe, because they will lose the vote emphatically. I was incensed to read recent comments attributed to Jose Barrosso where he implied “…those who count…” do not include the British population. Enough said!

By: jarod

jarod — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:47:36 +0000

Hi,

I’ve allways believed that pound was going to loose against Euro, and still believe, that euro will gain against pount, soon or later pount will loose against euro, after more countrys join the chain, euro slowly will became the stronger currency, thats why was developed and projected for that. Many didn’t believe me that would happen, but is in our lifes now, and soon euro will take control.

By: Chris Strutt

Chris Strutt — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:37:26 +0000

Although at the current point in time there are exchange rate benefits to joining the euro, in terms of competitiveness, is it really wise to join a currency which will destroy a system of monetary policy which has been successful in sustaining low inflationary growth for a decade?
In terms of structure in the housing market the UK is also very different to the Eurozone, in that we have a much higher percentage of owner occupied housing. This results in a much greater consumer sensitivity to interest rate changes, a difference that could never be fully accounted for by the European Central bank, which will with all probability continue for the foreseeable future to set interest rates according to the German economy, while ignoring the majority of other economies.
It is also under appreciated the extent to which joining the Eurozone would rob the UK of fiscal freedom. The rules about fiscal policy are stringent, and although have been ignored by the majority of the larger economies, would still provide barriers to maintaining the public services we currently enjoy.