Tories reject anti-euro visit to France by Howard

The Tory leadership has vetoed plans for a New Year visit to France by the shadow Chancellor, Michael Howard, to highlight the party's opposition to the single currency.

David Davis, the party chairman, had wanted Mr Howard to travel to the Continent on 1 January, when euro notes and coins are launched. But Mr Howard, backed by the leader, Iain Duncan Smith, threw out the proposal. Their move reflects a new desire for the party to lose its reputation for being obsessed with Europe.

A proposal by advisers in Tory Central Office to resurrect the "Keep the Pound" truck used on a national tour by the previous Tory leader, William Hague, was also immediately rejected.

A shadow cabinet member commented: "David Davis was very keen that the event should be marked. He was saying, 'Should Michael Howard go to France?' It was Michael who said we shouldn't do anything very dramatic. The stunt approach to everything was a problem in the last regime."

He said the party was determined to increase its focus on public services, rather than becoming caricatured by its hostility to the European Union. "If the single currency fails, everyone knows the Conservatives are the most sceptical of the parties. We don't need to keep reminding them of the fact," he said.

A senior Tory source said: "We will be responding to the launch of euro notes and coins with reasoned arguments for Britain keeping the pound, not with superficial gimmicks."