Do you think Britain should change their currency to the Euro?

Question

I'm british myself, and although I do see the pound sterling as part as Britain's culture, I don't think it will last forever.

When do you think the currency will change, and what benefits or disadvantages will there be?

Answer 1

We won't stand for loosing the pound even though it'd be more convenient to have the Euro.

Answer 2

No no no!

I don't want it to change - just think of those annoyed elderly!

Answer 3

Oh, I hardly think that any country as been 'swallowed up and ruled by Europe', as one answerer has put it.

I think that one way or another, Britain is going to have to join the Eurozone at some point. I don't see it happening for at least another 10 years, but I do think it will happen.  

Answer 4

i hope it doesnt. i'll be even more confused with working out money =S

Answer 5

Hope we never change to it.

I never think of myself as "European" anyway...maybe it's an island mentality. I dunno.  

Answer 6

No, sod Europe, It wont happen anyway, brown is in enough trouble without trying to bring in the euro. when the tories get in, which they will, they wont bother.

Answer 7

i dont want it to but i  think it would be better, not having to figure out the money when you go abroad and exchanging. i dont think we will, we like to be known as british and not european.

Answer 8

I don't think we should even be entertaining the idea but the Government is determined for us to be swallowed up and ruled by Europe anyway weather or not we want it  

Answer 9

Well it's bound to sooner or later, there are 5 economic tests set by Brown when he was still Chancellor of the Exchequer, and not 'running' the country. As soon as they have been achived then we get the Euro I assume. The tests are:

   1. Are business cycles and economic structures compatible so that we and others could live comfortably with euro interest rates on a permanent basis?

   2. If problems emerge is there sufficient flexibility to deal with them?

   3. Would joining EMU create better conditions for firms making long-term decisions to invest in Britain?

   4. What impact would entry into EMU have on the competitive position of the UK's financial services industry, particularly the City's wholesale markets?

   5. In summary, will joining EMU promote higher growth, stability and a lasting increase in jobs?

After this it's the PM's decision and then we have to join ERM II programme, then after 2 years we get it. Though seeing as the British coins have recently been redesigned im assuming that it will be a while before this happens.

Answer 10

I would actually like it if i we did. I don't know why we're hanging on to our own currency and it seems like the logical thing to change to the euro.

I will say though, i heard that phrase 'United States of Europe' only a few weeks ago and it was so weird. But i would vote yes to the euro.  

Answer 11

I think we should keep the £, if we switch to the Euro our economy is at the mercy of Europe and we lose control. At least right now WE have a say in out own finances and not Greek or Italian politician

Answer 12

I think that we will join the Euro when we reach parity which, probably, won't be long.

Yet again we have this stupid canard from sean_76 that "the elderly" won't be able to cope with the change. How does he think we cope when we travel abroad. On my last cruise we had to cope with eight changes of currency and at no time did we have to rely on the services of a "young person."

May I remind him that many older people can carry out addition, subtraction and multiplication mentally as we had no calculators when we were young.

I am frequently met with surprise when I reach a check-out manned (or personned) by a young member of staff when I offer the correct amount for a number of items that I am buying before the total has been rung up on the till. On occasions I have been asked " how did you do that?.

We had to cope with decimalisation yet I am sure that many younger people could not cope with 240 pennies or 20 shillings or 8 half crowns or 10 florins or 40 threepenny bits or 40 sixpences to the pound. That is ignoring the farthings and ha'pennies

Education didn't begin in the 1950's

Answer 13

NO i do NOT think Britain should or will change over to the Euro.

Europe dictates to Britain enough, and is making life miserable for a lot of British Citizens.

Answer 14

I don't mind them changing the currency as long as they put prices down and wages up!

If it is going to force prices up even more, then no way - they should keep it at the good old £!

Answer 15

do we really want to be like the frogs, krauts, pastafaces, paddies etc

if so then yes

Answer 16

I don't think a fear of change should be enough reason not to go to the Euro.

Personally, I liked all the countries having their own currency. I think it gave each country a bit of individuality. Now that continental Europe, as a whole, uses Euros, there's no fun travelling abroad and experiencing currency related issues.

I don't really mind if we swap to the Euro. In some ways, I hope we do as I believe that this country would be far better off if we followed the EU's rules. We'd have a better minimum wage, more holidays and our food would be of a better standard. To name a few positives.

It's not like the GBP has been around for ever- just ask anyone over the age of 50, and they'll go on about shillings and farthings etc. If we can completely change our currency system once, why not again?

The only reason I would not want to change is because I'm proud for our country to be individual. I like that Scotland, Northern Ireland and England have their own currency- it's a form of national pride. The Euro would take that away from us.

All in all, though, I would rather go with the EU. I think it's a better quality of life for all of us.

Answer 17

Nope the pound is part of British culture and I wont be able to use it proper without thinking about how much i'm really spending we should keep the good old £££££. Also it would be hard for the older gemeration to get used to a new currency.  

Answer 18

I do not think we should ever adopt the Euro as our currency, it would be another step to a United States of Europe, it would please Germany and France though as they are beginning to realise how the Euro has dragged down their economy.

Those of you who remember when the UK joined the European Monetary Fund, the result of which was the the pound crashed by pressure by both France and Germany, the result being we had interest rates at 15% and mortgages went up to nearly 18%.

After three or four days of this lunacy we cane out of the Monetary Fund and we have never looked back, our economy picked and we have had the strongest economy, even though the Labour Government have taxed us to the hilt and spent enormous sums on foreign aid as if the country had money to burn