If the economic benefits for Britain joining the Euro are, at best, dubious then a good question to ask is, "why are the politicians of today so keen to hand over power to Brussels?". After all politicians are not known for saying, "oh I think someone else will do a better job of running the country than I will".

Politicians are a strange breed but I think that a glimpse of the way they think was given by Sir Trevor Lloyd-Hughes who was the Press Secretary of Lord Wilson between 1964 and 1969. In an article for The Times (Wednesday February 23rd 2000) he gives an insight into Harold Wilson's ambitions:

Over three days [in Bonn], Wilson buzzed bee-like among the heads of the six EEC countries, the seven European Free Trade Area nations, President Johnson and others.... ...Smarter than Talleyrand, he was running diplomatic rings round them all, even de Gaulle. Jean Monnet, boosted his euphoria by opining that de Gaulle was opposing our entry into the EEC because he was afraid of yielding to Wilson the political leader of Europe. And so, in the embassy garden on the final morning, Harold confided to me: "Trevor, my real, deepest ambition is to become the master of Europe's destiny". The Times 23 Feb 2000

So in this incident we see de Gaulle not wanting to move the European project forward as he thought he may personally lose power to Wilson, while at the same time Wilson was tickled at the prospect of gaining power. I believe that this is the crux of the matter. Could it be the case that all of the politicians involved in the European integration project are harbouring secret desires to be the First President of Europe? 

I would argue that Tony Blair sees Britain's entry into the Euro as a stepping stone for gaining more power for himself. After all back in 1983 he was arguing that Britain should withdraw from the EEC. Such a change in opinion doesn't happen by accident and there has not been any new evidence or arguments why Britain should stay in the EEC. No - Tony Blair is a professional career politician and he sees Europe as his next empire. In addition Mr. Blair's ego is further inflated with the knowledge that he is a relatively young leader with a popular image across continental Europe. He is looking round at the other leaders and surely thinking that he can realise Wilson secret desires. Is it too much to imagine that his golden vision would be for future generation to look back at him in the same way Americans look back with admiration on the founding fathers of the USA?

In my opinion, if it is true that Tony Blair's ego is the driving force of Britain's entry into the Euro, it is the worst possible motive for such a decision!