The full text of the joint statement on the euro issued by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

"The prime minister and the chancellor presented a totally united front at the Cabinet when they outlined the decision-making process on the euro on Thursday.

The two men went out of their way to make two basic points:

Firstly, to assure the Cabinet this was a vital process of consultation in which they have a real say;

And secondly, to make clear that the dogmatic positions being ascribed to them by some in the media should be ignored.

The prime minister emphasised in his opening remarks that this was the most important decision this government would take: 'We have to make the right decision for the right reason in the right way.

'The analysis has to be serious. The assessment has to be thorough. This is why we have this process.'

He paid tribute to the rigour of the process the chancellor had put in place. He said no final decision had been taken.

Stories that he was determined to call a referendum this parliament, come what may and regardless of the five tests, were wrong.

Indeed, the prime minister emphasised the economics and the importance of the five tests.

He went on: 'If it is the right thing to go in, based upon this rigorous assessment of the long-term national economic interest, we do. If it is not, we don't.'

The chancellor, for his part, equally sought to assure Cabinet colleagues that the ritual presentation of him as being more sceptical than the prime minister and that, as a matter of principle, he is opposed to a referendum in this parliament, is wrong.

As he made clear early in the week and as he has told Cabinet colleagues, it is simply not the case that his mind is set against it.

He said that he and the prime minister had been through these issues in massive detail and that irresponsible briefings that they were at odds were quite wrong.

The chancellor said everyone was aware of the enormity of the decision and we had to get it right.

He will make clear on national TV this weekend that he and the prime minister are united in their determination to make the right decision in the right way.

He will make clear that if on the basis of the five-test assessment, that means a referendum in this parliament, he will fight every bit as hard as the prime minister for a Yes vote.

Both men acknowledged to the Cabinet that the process had been frustrating for some ministers, but they felt it important that the two of them went through the issues in real detail before this wider process of Cabinet consultation began.

Once a decision is taken, the prime minister and chancellor will be on exactly the same page, in total command of all the arguments and confident of winning support for the final agreed position.

Eighteen technical and supporting studies are being sent to Cabinet ministers this weekend and the diary slots for the first round of trilaterals have already been fixed as part of the process leading to the chancellor's statement to the House of Commons on June 9."