Acropalypse now for the euro

Simon Tilford, chief economist at the London-based Centre for European Reform, argues that Britain could escape relatively lightly if it is only Greece and Portugal which leave the single currency. Their economies are small enough for the disruption to be manageable.He added, however: “The problem is we are beyond that now. The contagion has spread to Spain, Italy and now France. At this stage there is a very real danger that the eurozone will not splinter, but fracture [completely].”