Tony Blair is aiming to take Britain into the euro in 2007, and wants the government to agree to a public pledge to secure membership by that date.

Today's Independent reports that a changeover plan put together by the Treasury predicts a four-month gap between the Cabinet's decision to call a referendum and the vote.

"I don't think Gordon [Brown] will buy a target date. He doesn't want to make a big song and dance about the euro. But they could agree to work towards an informal target," one minister is quoted as saying.