GUS O'Donnell, the Treasury official in charge of the Government's five euro tests, recently said that there can never be a "clear and unambiguous" economic case for Britain to join the euro and that it would ultimately be "a political decision".

This leaves Government policy on the euro in shreds.

Supporters of the euro are increasingly admitting that the economic costs of joining the euro are less important to them than the ability to strut on the political stage. They want Britain to give up the pound even if it causes economic problems for the rest of us. But why should we put British jobs and prosperity at risk just so that politicians can advance their own careers?

These are the same politicians who get excited by polls which show that, although most people in Britain are against the euro, the majority in the country also think it is "inevitable". But the only reason people think it is inevitable is because they do not trust politicians to keep their word and respect the views of the voters.

This is a sad reflection on the current state of politics and hardly a reason for pro-euro politicians to rejoice.

Britain has done better by keeping the pound and keeping control of its economy. Our unemployment level is half that of the Eurozone and our take-home pay is now higher than any EU country except Luxembourg.

In an uncertain time for the global economy, the Bank of England has been able to react faster and cut interest rates further in order to protect the economy against the downturn. We now have the best economic outlook in the coming year of any major economy in the world. If we were to replace the pound with the euro, we would lose control which would be the quickest way to take us back to the boom and bust of the past.

Now we know there is no compelling economic case for joining the euro, it is time for the Government to be honest about what it intends to do.

Business for Sterling, South Regional Council: Colin Howard, managing director, Datacomms Warehouse, Amersham; David Howe, former head of UK foreign exchange and branch services, Bank of Ireland in London, Gerrards Cross; Mike Clare, managing director, Dreams plc, High Wycombe; Steve Kerner, managing director, Kerner Telecom Ltd, High Wycombe; Peter Prior, managing director, Summerleaze Ltd, Maidenhead; Michael Taylor, financial director, Gresham Scientific Instruments Ltd, Marlow and others