Eurosceptic millionaire Paul Sykes is targeting North Yorkshire towns and cities for a massive leafleting campaign to stop Britain buying into the euro.

Paul Sykes

The Democracy Movement, Britain's biggest Eurosceptic pressure group, will be distributing leaflets at more than 240 locations nationwide, including shopping centres in York, Scarborough, Harrogate, Selby and Malton.

The movement has designated tomorrow as Democracy Day and activists will be handing out a million leaflets throughout the country, along with lapel badges and car stickers.

Harrogate-based Paul Sykes, chairman of the Democracy Movement, said the leaflets will mark the first stage in mobilising public opinion against British membership of the euro.

Mr Sykes, who is reportedly worth £250m, has promised to put £20m into the anti-euro campaign in an effort to counter what he sees as Government propaganda pressuring people to accept the euro.

"We are determined not to allow the Government and other supporters of the euro to brainwash the population into believing that they have no choice but to vote yes," said Mr Sykes.

"People need information about the consequences of the single currency and the Democracy Movement aims to ensure a real debate takes place."

The Government has promised to hold a referendum on the euro, which it is being predicted will take place around September 2002.

But the Democracy Movement believes the Government has already begun the process of "softening people up" for a yes vote, through its advertising campaign giving businesses information on gearing up for the euro.

Russell Walters, director of the movement, believes people are being encouraged to think that the euro is an economic inevitability."We are the fifth richest country in the world," said Mr Walters.

"We have nothing to fear by saying no to the euro but the Government is spending taxpayers' money on what it calls information - but what is really propaganda - to convince people we have to sign up."

The Democracy Movement was born out of the Referendum Party, which was relaunched in York last March during the Ecofin summit.

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