UK could still join EURO -- Blair

LONDON, June 24 (KUNA) -- The European single currency will survive its present crisis despite "fundamental" problems - and the UK could still join in the future, ex-prime minister Tony Blair has said. Blair rejected claims by former Labour cabinet colleague Jack Straw that the euro was doomed to collapse though he conceded the case for British entry was not "compelling". But he told the BBC that he remained "absolutely in favour of doing it, politically" if the economic circumstances meant the idea could be sold to voters. In an interview with BBC TV to be shown this Sunday he said he had fully supported then Chancellor Gordon Brown's assessment - using five tests - that the UK should not enter. But asked if that decision was a relief given the present eurozone chaos, he said: "I do not take the view some people take that Britain joining the euro in the past or now would be a disaster. "But I always said that unless you could make a compelling case for it economically, you were never going to win a referendum. "The case for Britain joining is not compelling. It may become that at a certain point." He went on: "I was always absolutely in favour of doing it politically and still am, by the way." Straw suggested last week that the euro could not survive and called for a speedy demise rather than a "slow death". "I don't think it will (collapse) actually," Blair said: "I don't think they are going to give up the single currency. That's not to say there aren't huge issues as to how you get through the next months .... I think and hope the single currency will resolve its problems." Prime Minister David Cameron said: "It would be a dreadful idea for Britain to join the euro. "As long as I am doing this job, there is no prospect of Britain even contemplating joining." (end) he.ajs KUNA 241818 Jun 11NNNN