PM 'like a rabbit in headlights'

Tony Blair was under pressure from Brussels today to come off the fence and take Britain into the euro.

European Commissioner Chris Patten accused him of behaving "like a rabbit in the headlights" and called his hesitation "shameful".

The attack came 24 hours after European Commission President Romano Prodi claimed the Prime Minister was afraid to let Britain play its full part in the EU.

Mr Patten, one of the most senior Tory supporters of the euro, launched his broadside in a lecture at Guildhall last night.

He taunted Mr Blair over his differences with Chancellor Gordon Brown, who is more cautious about the single currency, saying: "Will he? Won't he? What about Gordon?" And he said: "Our continued equivocation is shameful."