主题：【欧洲经济】英国民调：60%反对加入欧元体系，28%赞成 -- 西风陶陶

U.K. Voters Oppose Euro as Brown Prepares Verdict, Poll Shows

March 5 (Bloomberg) -- British voters remain opposed to joining the euro as Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown prepares to deliver his latest verdict on membership later this month, a MORI poll for Citigroup Inc. showed.

The poll of 1,959 people indicated that 60 percent of respondents don't want to join the European single currency, down one point from September. Twenty-eight percent said they wanted to adopt the euro, up from 24 percent in September. Citigroup gave no margin of error. The poll was taken between Feb. 19 and Feb. 25.

Brown last year ruled out a referendum on swapping the pound for the euro because he said Britain's economy was out of step with the dozen countries using the common currency. He'll update that assessment in a budget statement on March 17.

``We expect him to again rule out entry,'' Michael Saunders, chief western European economist at Citigroup in London wrote in a note accompanying the poll. ``The U.K. will probably stay out for at least the next five years.''

Prime Minister Tony Blair may call a general election as soon as next year. His government has been overshadowed by rows over his decision to go to war in Iraq last year, and that's stopped him fulfilling a pledge to campaign to persuade voters of the benefits of euro membership.

The lack of political focus on the euro reflects the fact that voters are more concerned about other issues. The MORI poll showed that health care ranks as voters' No. 1 priority, followed in descending order by immigration, education, defense, crime, pensions and taxation.

To contact the reporter on this story:

James Kirkup at Westminster on (44) [email protected]

To contact the editor of this story:

Catherine Hickley at [email protected]

Last Updated: March 5, 2004 11:43 EST