SO Tony Blair is now our guru of the euro. Heaven help us, now that the government is hell-bent on adopting the single currency.

It's all right for Mr Blair. He won't be the one to suffer the consequences of this drastic decision.

No, it's the long-suffering British public who will have to undergo cuts in welfare benefits, and possible tax increases to enable the country to come into line financially.

We'll have to tighten our belts - as if they aren't already tight enough.

Nobody knows the full implications a single currency can lead to.

But Tory leader William Hague has the right idea in opposing it for the foreseeable future. Tony Blair should heed the old adage, "Fool rush in where angles fear to tread."

BRIAN WATSON, Rosehill Road, Burnley.

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