MAN OF IRON (LADY)

Blair could destroy euro support: Britain in Europe campaign director warns of mass resignations if the PM offers nothing but 'warm words' in his forthcoming statement (Patrick Wintour and Sarah Hall, May 10, 2003, The Guardian)

The pro-euro campaign will suffer mass resignations and speedy collapse if Tony Blair only offers "warm words" about Britain joining the euro in the government's imminent statement, the Britain in Europe campaign director, Simon Buckby, warned last night. [...]

Some pro-European ministers have privately acknowledged that a referendum cannot be won in the next 18 months, making it necessary to defer a referendum until after the general election. The Europe minister, Denis MacShane, made that suggestion in an interview in the Italian newspaper, Corriere della Serra.

But pro-Europeans are privately claiming growing confidence that Mr Blair will commit himself to addressing the issue again in this parliament, even though such confidence has not been reflected in the briefings emerging from the Treasury over the past month.

If he deals the death blow that the EU so richly deserves Tony Blair will enter the Pantheon. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 10, 2003 9:17 AM