Blair faces 'anti-euro coalition'

Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith today predicted that a ‘‘popular coalition’’ of the British people would unite to face down Tony Blair if the Prime Minister sought to take the UK into the single European currency.

He was speaking two days ahead of the introduction of the euro as the currency of 12 EU states, amid widespread speculation that Mr Blair will use the appearance of euro notes and coins on January 1 to launch a bid to persuade voters of the merits of the currency.