6 June 2001, 18:12 UK VOTE Blair pledges independent scrutiny of euro referendum question
LONDON (AFX) - Prime Minister Tony Blair said he will not bounce
Britain into the euro with a "loaded" referendum question if he wins
tomorrow's general election.
In an interview with the Birmingham Evening Mail, Blair said the
independent Electoral Commission will have a final say on the wording
of any referendum question.
He said he could "absolutely" guarantee a fair vote if the
government decided to recommend British entry.
"They (the commission) are consulted on it and I can't really
imagine the circumstances in which the independent commission said they
didn't like the question and the politicians ignored them," Blair said.
He dismissed Conservative claims that Labour has already made plans
to rig the question so the only outcome can be a 'yes' vote.
"I think it's completely bizarre with a question as simple as 'do
you want to join a single currency or not?' - I don't know how many
different ways you can say that," Blair said.
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