A new poll in Britain claims opposition to adopting the euro has risen to a new high.
The Barclays Eurotrack Survey, carried out in early August, found 60 per cent of respondents said they would vote against joining the euro if the government held a referendum then on replacing the pound, the Financial Timesreported today.
Only 26 per cent of the 2,000 respondents said they would vote for the single currency.
Britain, along with Sweden and Denmark, has opted out of joining European Monetary Union, although Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair has said he wants Britain to join at some stage, provided the economic conditions are right.
Pro-euro campaigners had hoped that using euros on holiday in 2001 would help familiarise Britons with the single currency, highlight its benefits and swing public opinion in favour of the currency.
Mr Blair has promised to hold a referendum on euro membership if the government's five tests on the economic case for joining are met. An assessment of the tests is due by next June.