The Quickest way to go Metric is to Avoid Making a Martyr out of Steve Thorber

12.00.00am GMT Mon 15th Jan 2001

Reacting to the beginning of the court proceedings today by Sunderland council against 'metric martyr' greengrocer Steve Thorber, Yorkshire and the Humber's Lib Dem Euro-MP Diana Wallis said: "The quickest way for Britain to go metric is to stop making a martyr out of Steve Thorber, and drop the case. This is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut."

Ms Wallis pointed out that the EU directive of 1989 that was agreed by then minister Francis Maude (now the Tory foreign affairs spokesman) does NOT ban imperial measures but merely insists that metric measures are displayed. Anyone can continue to use imperial measures as well.

"Metric measures were made legal in 1897 because they are much, much easier than the old French system of avoirdupois that we call imperial. Most British people cannot say how many ounces make up a pound, or pounds a stone and a hundredweight.

"We took the national decision to go metric in 1965, eight years before we joined the EU. The two key ministers involved - Douglas Jay and Tony Benn - were anti-Europeans.

"It is crazy to blame Brussels for what is a home-grown, long-standing British policy. Metric measures are becoming the world standard. Even the Americans are adopting them."