ABSTRACT
It is a distinct oddity of the British debate about whether to join the euro that, for a long time, it has been the Right that led the opposition and the Left – or rather the pseudo-Left represented by New Labour and the Liberal Democrats – that has been the warmest advocate of joining. In Sweden, which decisively voted no to the single currency in September 2003, the balance of political opinion was quite different with the Left and the trade union movement swinging opinion against Economic and Monetary Union by highlighting the threat posed to Sweden’s cherished tradition of generous social welfare and labour market protection.
