The euro-war begins today with a £200,000 advertising offensive by the cross-party "No" campaign.

Business for Sterling and New Europe have joined forces to place double-page adverts in the Sun and Mail newspapers with an M+C Saatchi handcuff design spelling the word euro, and the message: "The real battle starts now. If you don't want Britain to be locked into the euro, support the no campaign."

"This election was not a referendum on the euro - Tony Blair said so, we said so, and the people know it's true. The British people and British business long ago decided that they would not cast their vote on the basis of their hostility to the euro and the election has not changed their minds," say the campaigners.