Since it's going to be a big debate soon, I wondered what you guys think??

My opinion is purely selfish.....

I dont want to move to the Euro, also dont think it will be good for Britain's economy if we do......so you can guess which way I voted !!!

I voted No.

I don't trust any set of politicians to come up with a plan to get a round of drinks in - never mind a large impact economic change like this.

this is a huge cluster ****** just waiting to happen

Definitely NO.

Euro coins set off the metal detector at the airport ...
In my experience, sterling coins do not.

As good a reason as any i've heard to stick 2 fingers up to the euro

I think the Euro is great! Imagine not having to change currency abroad and 1 Euro equals 1 Dollar - it's great.

But it appears that our economy is too far out or sync with France and Germany etc....

So in essence, we will take a view on whether Britain has met the 5 economic tests half way through this parlement with a view to holding a referedum if said tests are met.... blah, blah....yadda...yadda....

I'm really torn on this issue, I think that the UK economy is too autonomous from Europe to benifit from switching, plus, I feel losing the pound we would lose our national identity. (No more queen on notes).

On the other hand, I travel into Europe frequently, and would save me loads of hassle at Travelex.

Just FYI, my collegue in the Netherlands told me, when they switched to the Euro, the price of everything went up between 5 and 10%, because traders could take advantage of the confusion of changing exchange rates!

But so far, it looks like we don't want the Euro...

Trublion in the room, bonjour tout le monde :-)
Vote for as a euro user, and there is another vote for, who might be :-) ?

Anyway, turning UK to the Euro now will cost a lot, much more now than if UK joined at the begining, I don't think this is good to do at the moment, recession is on the way and it might not be a good idea to waste money.

@d'taleur

Until the government actually tell us what the benefits/losses are in plain English I don't know that we can really comment. Would be fantastic to go on holiday and actually know how much things cost, though.

i go with a big NO.... Euro only good for country like France and Germany, they dont do this for the good of Britain for sure.....

Don't trust the germans & french !!!

IMO....I think it will be the final straw in a long line of *****-ups from the government....talking from a bank rate point of view the pound has been stronger than any other currency for a long time! Our economy will continue to be much stronger if we keep it!

I also feel like it will be taking away our individuality...and on a personal note i'm proud to have British Pounds in my pocket!

Never trust french people they're worst even you think about

@d'taleur
Vince

I voted no - slowly but surely the government is selling us down the river. A common currency is the precursor to closer European relations, and ultimately full European Union.

I don't want to be a part of a United States of Europe - we don't even have a common language, and our cultures are far too diverse for us to ever be anything less than suspicious of other members.

[quote name='altezzaz' date='May 19 2003, 03:36 PM']Would be fantastic to go on holiday and actually know how much things cost, though.[/quote]
thats half the fun though, stops you caring how much you spend on holiday.

Oh dear, it seems the LOC is full of One-Nation Tories

Sod it. I work in Euroland but perleeez. It's monopoly money. it ain't going to work. on me way to click NO.
and slighty off topic,
The whole thing is a big mess. dover - calais is only 32milesof water but a big cultural difference it is. Imagine you driving from london to Luton and everyone's mentality is completely different. not saying which is good or bad, but why would somebody dictate interest rates to another person when he doesn't even have a clue how the other's economy work.

for a start, there's going to be too much fighting between the Brits,French, and Germans. No one will be prepared to give an inch even if you think the other is right.

rant over.

This one's a No Brainer.

There is no way that there can be a single monetary policy to satisfy all of the different regions of Europe, including the former Eastern European countries and Turks who are banging on the door.

Who in their right mind would want an unelected, irremovable and corrupt organisation in a different country, to make decisions that affect our lives and business?

The EC cannot agree on too many issues. Lets face it, if France had it's way Sadam Hussein would still be in power.

This is surely the most stupid idea in living memory.

Sounds like the same old same old to me, let the sheep get on with it while we do what needs to be done - let the Europeans make a mess of it like they always do, and let the English take the brave course - say no to the sheep.

[quote name='Teddy' date='May 19 2003, 05:28 PM']The whole thing is a big mess. dover - calais is only 32milesof water but a big cultural difference it is.[/quote]
***** - this beach erosion business must be worse than i thought ...
The channel grew by 10 miles already ??

[quote]Teddy Posted on May 19 2003, 04:28 PM
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Imagine you driving from london to Luton and everyone's mentality is completely different.[/quote]

Have you been to Luton recently?

big no for me, ive been in germany 13 years.....ahhhhhhhh, the times, anyway,

the germans are in dire trouble at the moment, they blame it all on the euro, as do the danish and the dutch,

i thought the change over was a farce, some prices doubled, strangley not one single price dropped.

if the UK was to join, our economy would suffer irepairable damage.

bollox to europe[img]http://e4u.consoleradar.com/fingers/fing37.gif[/img]........long live the 53rd state

[quote name='Supracharged-IS340' date='May 19 2003, 10:18 PM']bollox to europe[img]http://e4u.consoleradar.com/fingers/fing37.gif[/img]....[/quote]

AMEN to that ... Best we get out altogether while we still can

who are the 9 YES voters..............

come on out you scallywags...........Chirac is amongst us

8 actually Mat, you know already one
As I'm not living in UK, my vote is nul.

Now seriously, and it's just my silly opinion regarding Euro land, I still believe it's the most important change since the WWII, we're now in deficit due to the prices increasment, big bro Euro eyes are on France saying that we have to do economy, they planed a 1,5% and the reality is 3,5% increasment, this is probably similar in most of the Euro countries, Germany suffered of floods adding this with the Euro, they are economicaly badly damaged. Even if it was one of the country praying for Euro, the parity was made for them, not for all the others countries.
BUT as the recession is otw, the situation will be better after, and I bet the Euro will be far more effective then.

Now I'm in favor of the Euro, because it's the only way to be competitive against North America and Asia markets, it's easy now to buy for example through the net goods in USA, with the shipping it's even cheaper than in Europe.
NOW, I'm definitly in favor of the Euro and the Euro land concept, we need to be joined to be more effective (Murphy's law), but I definitly don't want to see Turkia and all the others countries applying for Euro land to come in. Or we will have Europe with two speed, one for rich countries and the other one for poor.
Seeing how is managing Turkia the Kurd problem, I don't think this country is a democraty, and for the others, I don't want to pay for them. Anyway maybe Europe is seeking for low cost production in this countries.

Unluckily we don't have the right to say YES or NO for having more countries in Europe with a referundum.

@d'taleur

heuuuu, what is a scallywag ?

[quote name='vince-com' date='May 20 2003, 07:14 AM']heuuuu, what is a scallywag ?[/quote]
hmmmm.... a mischevious person...

Hey vince-com, you are gradually coming around to the correct way of thinking . You are right to be very suspicious about the former Eastern Block countries and Turkey. The trouble is that becuase you are in Europe there is nothing you can do about it. You can't even get rid of the politicians that make these stupid policies. If France was autonomous you could have decided whether or not you wanted to be over run with economic migrants and pay extra taxes to keep them comfortable (whilst they are drug running and robbing your houses).

The way to compete with the USA and the far east is to work harder and become more efficient. It is NOT to impose all encompassing powers to make all the counties equal. In my view that is a recipe for WW3.

The reason you do not have the right to a vote to say which countries can come into Europe, is because Europe is run by a bunch of stupid, corrupt self advancing crooks and control freaks

Sorry I don't agree with you on the Europe idea, still thinking that alone you're almost out of the game.
Making an Europe stronger, making countries working together, assuming that with a unic currency this will be, is the way to go ahead for me.
Regarding immigration, we're facing the same problem, there, and since a long time, lots of people coming to France without getting involved in it, I'm a republican, thinking that in a republic everyone should integrate himself, and add the right to claim yes or not. The one who doesn't do it should be kick out !

The idea of a united Europe where everyone is equal and everyone is happy and gets along well is a very nice dream, but it ain't gonna happen.

Personally I think GB will be much better off working alone. Don't tell me that the French are not going to sell us onions because we 're not in Europe.

A perfect test of the harmony of the EC nations was during the Iraq war. Chirac was lucky that Blair allowed him to save face after the shameful way he behaved. I don't think that it would have happened the other way around somehow.

Europe is a great place with fantastic people. The trouble is that they have been lead along a road with false promises by stupid and greddy politicians.

[quote name='Dr Evil' date='May 19 2003, 06:02 PM'][quote]Teddy Posted on May 19 2003, 04:28 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Imagine you driving from london to Luton and everyone's mentality is completely different.[/quote]

Have you been to Luton recently? [/quote]
heh heh. not since me Northampton days

It aint gonna matter what anybody thinks,when a party gets in thier first plan is to leave
a mark in history,especially when the reign is coming to an end
we ceased being an island the minute the first strike of the shovel went in.
so forget a referendum coz these lying,two faced beauracratic a**e licking politicans
will make your mind up for you..............were 'GOING IN'

Rant over