Britain retains euro membership option

THE British government has agreed it should not rule out joining the euro in the foreseeable future, a minister said yesterday.

British newspapers said the government would retain the option of holding a national referendum on joining before the next general election.

Pro-euro Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, who discussed the euro issue with Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown last week, said it would be “disastrous” for Britain to rule out adopting the euro.