BBC News - Tony Blair: UK could still join euro in future
We know it makes sense. We love you Tony!
We know it makes sense. We love you Tony!
Former prime minister Tony Blair has said there might still be a case for the UK joining the euro in the future.
He told the BBC he did not agree with people who argued joining would be a disaster, but there had to be a compelling economic case for doing so.
He said he believed the euro would eventually resolve its problems and the case for Britain joining may become "compelling ... at a certain point".
David Cameron said it would be a "dreadful idea" for Britain to join.
The prime minister, in Brussels for an EU summit where Greece's debt crisis is among items on the agenda, said: "Britain is out of the euro - I think we will stay out of the euro and certainly as long as I am doing this job there is no prospect of Britain even contemplating joining the euro."
The Greek parliament has to pass fresh austerity measures next week before the country can gain vital bail-out funds to prevent it defaulting on its loan payments, due in mid-July.
Mr Blair told BBC One's Politics Show, in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday, he had backed the idea of Britain joining the euro when he came to power - but had accepted that the conditions had to be right.
He told the BBC he did not agree with people who argued joining would be a disaster, but there had to be a compelling economic case for doing so.
He said he believed the euro would eventually resolve its problems and the case for Britain joining may become "compelling ... at a certain point".
David Cameron said it would be a "dreadful idea" for Britain to join.
The prime minister, in Brussels for an EU summit where Greece's debt crisis is among items on the agenda, said: "Britain is out of the euro - I think we will stay out of the euro and certainly as long as I am doing this job there is no prospect of Britain even contemplating joining the euro."
The Greek parliament has to pass fresh austerity measures next week before the country can gain vital bail-out funds to prevent it defaulting on its loan payments, due in mid-July.
Mr Blair told BBC One's Politics Show, in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday, he had backed the idea of Britain joining the euro when he came to power - but had accepted that the conditions had to be right.
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