Will he, won't he?

摘要

Tony blair wants to hold a referendum on joining the euro, but he cannot do it without the assent of chancellor, Gordon Brown. Mr Brown mutters about the economic tests he has set which must be passed before Britain joins. The cabinet, silenced by his fiat, says nothing. The Conservative opposition, itself divided, shuns the issue. In this vacuum, business leaders complain about policy drift and journalists are left to speculate. This is where the most important political question facing Britain has been stuck for some time, but things may be changing. The Labour Party chairman, Charles Clarke, one of the few ministers licensed to speak on the issue, has called this "the decisive year". Other ministers say privately that if Britain is to join the euro before the next general election (2005-06), a view will have to be reached (though not made public) on the economic tests by the time the party's annual conference begins on September 29th.