Gordon Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce delivered a bottle of champagne to Tony Blair today along with a letter urging him to ‘have the bottle' to call a referendum on the euro.

Mr Bruce joined Labour MP Chris Bryant and Tory MP Ian Taylor to make up a cross-party delegation to Downing Street, organised by the Britain in Europe campaign.

Commenting on this morning's action, Mr Bruce said:

“The Liberal Democrats have been warning of the damage our isolation from the euro would cause since the moment the new currency came into being in 1999. Staying outside the Euro will harm British jobs, investment and industry.

“Maintaining the status quo simply isn't an option. The consequence of continued inaction on the euro will lead to the collapse of the pro-Europe campaign and provoke a flood of investment out of the UK. I am calling on the Government to either confirm entry of Britain into the eurozone or, if Gordon Brown determines we have failed on the five tests, the Government should lay out a timetable and strategy to meet them. The UK will pay a high price for Government dithering on an issue vital to our economic well-being. We can't continue to drift with impunity.”