EURO DELAY WILL COST BRITAIN DEARLY - TAYLOR

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th Jun 2003

Indecision on the Euro comes at a cost. Every year outside the Euro our share of inward investment falls, exports and jobs are threatened and consumers continue to pay higher prices for everyday goods, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Matthew Taylor said today.

Mr Taylor, commenting in advance of Chancellor Gordon Brown's statement on the Euro this afternoon, said:

"In 1997 the Chancellor promised 'the time for indecision is over'. Six years later the Government still can't make its mind up - the Chancellor is all mouth and no trousers on the Euro. The ridiculous political power struggle between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown over when to join means inaction, low investment and higher prices. "

"If the Chancellor truly believes that in principle Britain will be better off in the Euro he needs to steer our economy to overcome the remaining problems - that is the real test for the Chancellor.

"Convergence requires the economic and political will, to make the change, like every country that has joined has done. The Government needs to set a clear timetable, steering the economy to allow the British people the chance to decide."