An unearthed video shows ex-Reform UK leader Richard Tice get into a heated debate with former prime minister Tony Blair.
Thirty-six-year-old Tice questions Blair during a 2001 election Question Time over the euro debate.
At the turn of the century, there was political debate over Britain's membership of the single currency.
Tony Blair was an advocate of membership and argued that the euro offered Britain economic and political advantages.
Richard Tice was recently replaced as leader of the Reform UK party by Nigel Farage
PA
Others argued that it would put an end to Britain's economic sovereignty pointing to the right to issue a national currency as a sign of independence and a tool of economic management.
Sitting as a member in the audience, Tice voiced his concerns over membership stating: "Mr Blair, average unemployment in the eurozone countries is double that of the unemployment rate of Britain.
"If we join the Euro, we will have higher taxes, higher regulation and it will destroy British jobs, not protect them and it will not create them."
Blair disagreed with Tice, stating: "Provided that our economy is convergent with those of mainstream Europe then I believe that it will be good for British jobs and British industry."
Tony Blair vs a 36-year old Richard Tice on the Euro, during a 2001 election Question Time pic.twitter.com/0RUG4xjcmx
— max (@maxtempers) June 17, 2024
The former prime minister argued that being part of the single currency would not harm British jobs or mean higher taxes "if the economic conditions were right" and it would have allowed Britain to have the exchange rate stability that the manufacturing industries were "desperate for."
Blair explained that if the country joined a couple of years before when the economics were wrong, it would have been a bad call for British jobs.
Tice interjected, claiming: "Average unemployment rate is double that of Britain. There's no point in joining, it's going to destroy jobs. Nine out of ten jobs in this country are not dependent on European trade. What about those nine people?
"Why are you doing everything for the one out of ten."
Richard Tice sits in the audience in a white shirt to question Tony Blair who is the former prime minister of the UK
X/ @maxtempers
Blair refuted this point saying that although unemployment was higher in some parts of Europe than it was in Britain, if the country joined the single currency it would not mean unemployment would go up.
He explained: "The fact is, when you talk about jobs being dependent on Europe, we probably have something like three million jobs dependent on Europe. Something like 60 per cent of our export trade is dependent on Europe"
Tice chimed in: "And what about the other 25 million jobs?"
Blair concluded: "If we were to take the course that the Conservatives are arguing and withdraw to the margins of Europe, then I tell you it will be a disaster for British jobs and British industry and people should understand that."
In June 2003, Gordan Brown ruled out joining the euro, and the UK never adopted the Euro as its official currency for the duration of its membership in the European Union.
