Poll finds economists back euro

TWO-THIRDS of Britain's leading economists favour joining the European single currency, says a new survey. They include Willem Buiter of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.

A poll published today in The Economist found that 106 out of 164 academic economists thought joining the euro would be in Britain's economic interest, while 58 were opposed. Notable "anti-euro" academics include John Flemming, a former chief economist at the Bank of England, and Patrick Minford of the Cardiff Business School.

Meanwhile, a new anti-euro grouping was launched in the City last night by the lobby organisation, Business for Sterling. Business for Sterling said its "City team" - led by former Stock Exchange deputy chairman Stanislas Yassukovich - would challenge the perception that the City was pro-euro.