THE recent announcement by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on the National Changeover Plan to the euro that a referendum on the single currency would follow the next general election came as no surprise to me.

The Referendum Party said that the offer of such a referendum was a sham. The policy was offered to keep people from voting for the Referendum Party and not a sincere offer to hold a referendum in the lifetime of this parliament.

A referendum on the single currency falls far short of the full referendum on whether or not Britain should be part of a federal Europe.

Nevertheless, it was a promise and those who voted for the Referendum Party should campaign to see that Labour honours its election manifesto pledge.

The referendum must surely be held before taxpayers' money is spent preparing for the euro and before business embarks on the expense of installing new tills.

The need for the Referendum Party is as great now as it was in 1997. I hope that our supporters will come forward for this campaign and also stand in this year's local elections.

RICHARD OAKLEY (former Referendum Party candidate), James Street, Great Harwood.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.