Mr Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister, will today end months of equivocation and signal a clear commitment to taking Britain into Europe's single currency early after the next general election.
In his first significant political statement to the Commons on the euro, Mr Blair will unveil a national changeover plan to pave the way for a Cabinet decision to join in 2001 or 2002.
However, Mr Blair will not give a precise timetable for joining the 11-member euro-zone, which will disappoint the pro-European lobby and bigger British companies. Mr Blair's long-awaited statement marks a belated start to a campaign to persuade a largely sceptical British public to support economic and monetary union in a referendum after the next general election. He will reiterate that there is no constitutional bar to membership, but that Britain must meet a series of economic tests.
Ministers fear a severe backlash from the eurosceptic British press, led by Mr Rupert Murdoch's Sun tabloid. "It's probably the end of our love-in with Rupert," said one. "Tony's views will be crystal-clear, as we at last try to move public opinion our way."
Mr Blair will commit the government to spending millions of pounds on consultancy and related preparations for modernising payment systems at the Department of Social Security, the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise.
