Britain's opposition Labour Party signalled yesterday that it was not in any hurry to jettison sterling and join a single European currency in 1999.

Speaking to reporters following a meeting with US Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, Labour economic spokesman Gordon Brown said he saw "real hurdles" that made it "increasingly difficult" for Britain to enter monetary union in 1999.

"Getting it right is, of course, more important than getting it quickly," he said. Page 3.