Tony Blair: UK may face 'interesting choice' over euro

BlondeHeadOn

I thought this headline was a joke, but apparently not - link here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18568527

"Tony Blair has sad the UK will face an "interesting choice" over whether to join the euro if the currency's current crisis is resolved.

The former prime minister told the BBC he believed the UK should still be keeping open the option of joining it.

He said that looking at the "broad sweep of history" in the long term "the European integration project" was going to go ahead, "like it or not".

The UK, as a "small island nation", had to be part of it to have influence.

Mr Blair said that the only thing that would save the single currency now was to have a "grand plan" where Germany was ready to commit its economy fully - "treating the debts of one as the debts of all".

This would be difficult for Germany, he said, and would have to be in return for other countries having "precise, deliverable" programmes of change and reform that could restore European competitiveness. "

:eek:


Does anyone take this seriously?

Generali

BlondeHeadOn wrote: »

Does anyone take this seriously?

Not me.

How can someone still believe in fixed exchange rates after the ERM/'Pound in your Pocket'/Argentinian Peso debacles?

The man is clearly an idiot.

shortchanged_2

The idea of a central bank setting interest rates for such diverse economies was never going to and never will work.

vivatifosi

I think this speaks more of Blair's opinion of himself than it does of what he's saying.

He's always seen himself as a great internationalist: able to deal with that weird Republican Bush even after his natural ally Clinton had gone (remember "yo Blair?"). He believed passionately in the cause of war in the Middle East and tried to carve out a career for himself as a peace envoy afterwards and now this. I can't help thinking he feels he can make a role for himself in Europe too, a bit like they tried to lever Gordon Brown into a more European role.

moneyinmypocket

He just wants to make headlines

chris_m

BlondeHeadOn wrote: »

Does anyone take Bliar seriously?

I've corrected that for you

CLAPTON

Blair was simply writing his CV for presidency of the eu

A._Badger

Hasn't he been arrested yet?

ruggedtoast

I am pro-European but even I think the EU is a disaster. It's an unelected, unaccountable, neoliberal cartel designed to suppress the democratic rights of sovereign nations to benefit the markets.

The further away the UK stays from it the better. Britain needs to be conjoined onto that mess like Hong Kong needs to be absorbed by China.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

BlondeHeadOn wrote: »

He said that looking at the "broad sweep of history" in the long term "the European integration project" was going to go ahead, "like it or not".

He's absolutely right about this part.

The UK, as a "small island nation", had to be part of it to have influence.

Again, he's right about that.

The question is, how do you define "part of it"?

Mr Blair said that the only thing that would save the single currency now was to have a "grand plan" where Germany was ready to commit its economy fully - "treating the debts of one as the debts of all".

Again, absolutely correct.

This is inevitable, eventually. The only question is how we get there.

Does anyone take this seriously?

What's not to take seriously?

-That Europe will eventually integrate fully, as a "United States of Europe" type entity?

Absolutely inevitable in my opinion. The only question is how and when. Nationalism has been a disaster for Europe over the last couple of centuries, so the natural evolution is to a more joined up future.

-That the UK should join the Euro?

Well recent events have reminded us that a country which issues debt in it's own currency, and keeps hold of it's own monetary policy, controls it's own destiny to a far greater extent than those who do not. So I'd suggest joining the Euro is not right for us in the foreseeable future. But Blair is right, eventually there will be a decision to make, and it's not going to be as easy or as clear cut as it seems today.

A._Badger

ruggedtoast wrote: »

I am pro-European but even I think the EU is a disaster. It's an unelected, unaccountable, neoliberal cartel designed to suppress the democratic rights of sovereign nations to benefit the markets.

The further away the UK stays from it the better. Britain needs to be conjoined onto that mess like Hong Kong needs to be absorbed by China.

You still haven't looked-up what 'neo liberal' means yet, have you Toastie? You should have taken the hint when the General pointed it out recently.

It's like describing the former Soviet Union as 'free market'.