Electoral chief warns: Don't rig euro poll

Tony Blair was warned by the Electoral Commission yesterday not to try to rig the wording of a referendum on the European single currency.

Pro-euro ministers had hoped the questions could be couched in a way that would maximise the chances of a "yes" vote in a national poll on membership.

But Sam Younger, head of the Electoral Commission, said he would not be bounced by the Government over the form of the referendum.

He said: "There's an obligation on us as an independent organisation to respond to the draft question independently and say whether we think it's intelligible and whether we think it is fair and we will do that without fear or favour." Mr Younger told Radio 4's Today programme he expected to encounter "enormous pressure" from the Government on the issue.

Speculation is growing in Westminster that the Government could announce that its five economic tests for euro membership have been satisfied by the end of this year, paving the way for a 2003 referendum.

Mr Blair has made clear he would prefer a simple "yes/no" choice put to the voters. But the commission is privately arguing that such a form of words could be loaded. One option would be to ask voters whether they wanted to join the single currency or to keep the pound.

Michael Ancram, the shadow Foreign Secretary, said: "We welcome Sam Younger's comments that he will not be constrained. We hope he will use all powers available to him to ensure that any question put will be scrupulously fair to both sides of the argument."

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The Electoral Commission will play its role and we will recognise that. They will play their role as is appropriate."