Conservative leader William Hague's Keep the Pound roadshow rolled into Lewes last night.

Mr Hague, who made a whistle stop visit to Brighton as well, believes the euro will be a main theme of the General Election.

The Conservative leader said Tony Blair had promised a referendum on the single currency within two years of the next General Election, assuming he won it.

Mr Hague said: "Because he said that, it is now clear the future of the pound is a fundamental election issue."

Tories believe their opposition to the single currency has struck a chord with British voters and would like to turn the election into a mini-referendum.

Mr Hague said last night a referendum would be unfair, with Labour choosing the questions and the timing.

He said: "Don't expect a fair referendum - it is the election that will decide whether we keep the pound."

Speaking to Lewes Tories, he called for more help for farming and the countryside.

He said: "The rural economy in Britain is in recession at the moment, and I don't think anybody believes that inside the M25."

He promised to scrap John Prescott's house-building targets and said councils would be free to designate new green belts.

He also pledged to reduce violent crime through tougher sentencing and increasing police numbers.

Mr Hague vowed to boost state pensions. He also promised to cut taxes on savings and dividends, saying everybody was paying more tax under Labour.

He said: "They are tax reductions to help people who have been clobbered by stealth taxes under the Labour Government."