British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair is facing fresh calls to set out a timetable for a referendum on joining the euro single currency.
As newspaper reports said Mr Blair was looking at plans for a possible euro referendum on May 1st, 2003, to coincide with regional elections, opposition Liberal Democrat leader Mr Charles Kennedy urged the government to stop "dragging their feet.
"There's every reason to suppose that conditions can be met and that we can hold a referendum in 2003," Mr Kennedy will say in a speech due to be delivered today. "It's time to concentrate our minds. We should set a clear timetable for a referendum on the euro next year".
But a spokesman for Mr Blair said no decision had been made. "There has been no change in our policy, and no decision taken on a future timetable," he said.
Sterling was little changed on the foreign exchanges at 61.12 pence per euro despite the growing pressure for a referendum, but analysts said there was a risk the speculation would push the currency lower.
The latest round of speculation comes after Europe Minister Mr Peter Hain, who is widely seen as a frontman for Mr Blair on the euro question, said in an interview last week the euro could replace the pound within three years.
Mr Blair favours joining the euro in principle but says he will do so only if five economic tests set by Finance Minister Mr Gordon Brown have been passed, and if Britons agree in a referendum.
Mr Blair has promised to make an assessment of the five tests by June 2003 at the latest.