Euro gag claim 'nonsense'

A fresh row over Britain's membership of the euro has broken out, triggered by claims that ex-foreign secretary Robin Cook was gagged from speaking out on the issue.

Former aide David Clark said in a newspaper article that the government was frightened such debate could cost it votes.

Charles Clarke: Article was 'absolute nonsense'

Coming as industrialists urged ministers to clarify their position on the euro, the Conservatives seized on the claim as evidence of government "dishonesty".

But Labour's new party chairman, Charles Clarke, dismissed it as nonsense.

"I've read the piece to which you are referring but the suggestion that anybody's been gagged is absolute nonsense," he told journalists.

Brown attacked

The criticism from namesake David Clark - a special adviser to Mr Cook for seven years - singled out Chancellor Gordon Brown for particular criticism, in an attack on what he called the government's "discreditable" handling of the euro issue.

He said the chancellor was obstructive, had played "rather dangerous games" and been guilty of "humbug" over the government's five economic tests for euro entry.

Jack Straw took over from Robin Cook as foreign secretary

David Clark told the BBC: "I think the way the government has handled the issue has not been to put the British interest first, it has been to put their electoral prospects first."

In a newspaper article setting out his views in detail, he says that "even the most limited attempts to present some of the arguments were closed off by a leadership too frightened to share them with the electorate".

In four years working on the government's European policy, Mr Clark goes on, he often recalled the imagery used by the Tory Sir Geoffrey, now Lord, Howe in his stinging resignation speech which triggered the fall of Margaret Thatcher as prime minister.

Lord Howe had said his negotiations in Europe had been damaged by his leader's eurosceptic policy.

He said it had been similar to forcing a cricket batsman to go to the crease with a bat which had been broken by his own captain.

It wouldn't necessarily be such a problem if Tony Blair was willing to assert himself

David Clark

Mr Clark also says in the Guardian that the government had "sacrificed" a significant proportion of Britain's manufacturing industry, saddled with crippling interest rates, thanks to its timidity.

The former special adviser, who left his post when the election was called, has said the article was written without Mr Cook's sanction and before his departure from the Foreign Office in Friday's reshuffle.

Shadow foreign secretary Francis Maude said the special adviser's claim "blows the gaffe on all of the wrangling and dishonesty at the centre of this government".

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown's "stealth and subterfuge" on the euro illustrated why people felt unconnected from politics and the election turnout was so low, Mr Maude added.

Blair 'all-powerful'

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell said Mr Blair was in an "all-powerful position" on the euro and should "seize the day".

"No one, not even the chancellor of the exchequer, is in a position to stand against the prime minister if he puts his mind to ensuring that a referendum is called as soon as practical".

Jack Straw took over from Robin Cook as foreign secretary

At the same time further pressure was put on the government over the euro by the chairman of Anglo-Dutch consumer giant Unilever.

Niall Fitzgerald warned of "serious repercussions" if ministers continued to delay a decision on joining the single currency.

On Monday new Foreign Secretary Jack Straw sought to dampen speculation that he is more sceptical about Britain joining the eurozone than his predecessor.

Mr Cook was shifted to a more junior post, leader of the House of Commons, in Mr Blair's post-election reshuffle.