Report: More than 300 British Business Leaders Say no to Euro

Published September 6th, 2000 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

More than 300 British business executives have publicly voiced their opposition to Britain joining the European single currency in a two-page petition published in the Financial Times Wednesday. 

Two days after the launch of the anti-euro "No" campaign, executives such as David Webster, head of the supermarket chain Safeways, and Hilton International president John Jackson signed up to the 338-name list. 

The campaign opposing the single currency is led by two anti-euro groups, New Europe and Business for Sterling, which say they are apolitical, despite the membership of several well-known politicians from across the spectrum. 

On Tuesday, the head of the Conservative opposition, William Hague, unveiled his party's "mini-manifesto," aimed at winning the next general election by opposing the euro and pledging to adopt laws to prevent further powers being ceded to Europe. 

With the next election possibly less than a year away, the issues of Europe and the single currency are likely to figure among the hottest campaign topics. 

A recent survey showed that 69 percent of Britons were opposed to signing up to the euro, compared to 23 percent who would back joining the 11-country euro-zone – LONDON (AFP) 

 

 

© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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