Australian media tycoon Mr Rupert Murdoch will campaign against Mr Tony Blair in the event of a referendum on the euro. Mr Murdoch also suggested that his sons Lachlan and James could share the future leadership of News Corporation.
In an interview in today's Financial Times, the influential newspaper baron restated his opposition to Britain adoption of the single currency.
"Vote no," Mr Murdoch said is the message he would like to see spread by his newspapers, the Sun, the News of the World, the Timesand the Sunday Times.
"Europe is made up of so many diverse cultures and histories that to slam it altogether with a government of French bureaucrats answerable to nobody . . . I cannot see anything but benefit by waiting," he said.
Mr Murdoch also stuck to his previous position that Lachlan, the elder son who has run the Australian newspaper titles, is the designated heir to run the business - partly, because he is "older".
But, emphasising the executive qualities of both sons, particularly Mr James Murdoch's achievements since he took control of Star TV, the pan-Asian broadcaster, their father said: "I think they are very close and they will get on extremely well. It [the future leadership] will be more shared than it seems at the moment."