THE first salvos as to why we should join the Euro have started to appear in this newspaper, namely the MEPs for Labour and the Lib Dems, both of whom make their case around the business and exchange rate markets.

Both set out what they see as the advantages of signing up to the Euro and we have nothing to fear. Then we find that one of the world's leading economists and Nobel prize winner (Professor Milton Friedman) predicts that the Euro will self destruct within 15 years. Who are we to believe?

When we were first asked if we wished to join what was laughingly called "the Common Market" we were promised that Britain's industry would benefit from free and fair trade along with huge investment and jobs coming into Britain from our new European partners.

When decimalisation was brought in, again Britain's industry would benefit and flourish. The reality was completely different. Britain's steel, coal, fishing and farming industries were decimated, unemployment reached three million, our public services and health care were starved of resources, our workers became the lowest paid in the western world, interest rates reached 15 per cent and 40,000 homes a year were being repossessed.

What was supposed to be a golden era from North Sea oil became an era of selling the family silver to stave off bankruptcy.

We are now getting the same promises if we join the Euro. From the same people who have flourished under the great European adventure, politicians, chief executives, bureaucrats and the other fat cats who will flourish even more with the Euro.

In the last year alone top company chairmen and chief executives managed pay rises on average of 9.3 per cent, giving them on average with bonus £800,000 per annum, politicians' 20 per cent includes safeguards on their pensions, even some councillors gave themselves over 190 per cent rises (six per cent still too much?)

Yet poverty is on the increase in this country.

The cost to taxpayers in Britain for the privilege of being part of Europe for 2000 was a staggering £16.5 billion (gross, pink book 2001. OFNS) that equates to 68 fully equipped state of the art 800 bed super hospitals, or £634 for each taxpayer with enough left over to keep every elderly people's home in the country open.

Most of Britain's bosses and their European partners are now looking more towards Asia for their new factories and opening more and more low pay sweat shops to increase their already obscene profits and wages, even the Europeans are deserting Europe.

Look at your electrical goods, cars and car parts, and your designer gear, how much is made in Britain or Europe? (don't include assembled). The French refuse our beef, will the Euro change that?

Most of our trade and our inward investment is from outside Europe, we get very little from Europe. Why do we need the Euro? You will have to decide whom you believe, the fat cats or the professor.

MR J ALCOCK, Cherry Close, Blackburn.