London - Britain's minister for Europe, Mr Peter Hain, broke a prolonged government silence on the euro yesterday, saying a decision on joining the currency club could not be put off forever and suggesting he was in favour.
Government officials scurried to insist Mr Hain had not altered long-established policy but pro-euro campaigners hoped the comments by a supposed eurosceptic signalled the launch of a new front by the ruling Labour Party. "The euro is marching on and no one thinks the decision can be postponed forever," Mr Hain told the left-wing magazine Tribune.