Lord Mandelson has denied telling the head of the European Commission the UK was ready to join the euro. Jose Manuel Barroso sparked feverish speculation after saying he had spoken to UK politicians about the idea. But Lord Mandelson who worked with Mr Barroso for four years rejected claims the EC President was referring to him. The business secretary said he still favoured eventual UK entry but could not remember speaking to Mr Barroso about it recently. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I haven't had a discussion in my memory, with Mr Barroso about this. "I think I might have exchanged words when I first went to the Commission in 2004 but not since, no. "My view is that the government is right to maintain a long-term policy objective of taking Britain into the euro, but it's not for now."
Lord Mandelson has denied telling the head of the European Commission the UK was ready to join the euro.
Jose Manuel Barroso sparked feverish speculation after saying he had spoken to UK politicians about the idea.
But Lord Mandelson who worked with Mr Barroso for four years rejected claims the EC President was referring to him.
The business secretary said he still favoured eventual UK entry but could not remember speaking to Mr Barroso about it recently.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I haven't had a discussion in my memory, with Mr Barroso about this.
"I think I might have exchanged words when I first went to the Commission in 2004 but not since, no.
"My view is that the government is right to maintain a long-term policy objective of taking Britain into the euro, but it's not for now."
