Britain stays Imperial

The European Union is set to confirm it has abandoned what became one of its most unpopular policies among many people in Britain. It is proposing to allow the UK to continue using pounds (lbs), miles and pints as units of measurement indefinitely.

The European Commission will announce later it is leaving all future decisions to the British government. The decision is being seen as a victory for supporters of the ancient imperial system, the so-called "metric martyrs".

The UK had been due to set a date for phasing out all its imperial measurements within three years.
This would have meant setting a deadline for ending the traditional delivery of pints of milk - and the sale of pints of beer in Britain's pubs.

Every one of Britain's road signs would have had to be changed from miles to kilometres - a move which opponents warned would be both expensive and confusing.

Under the plans which have now been scrapped, even displaying the price of fruit and vegetables in pounds and ounces would have become grounds for a criminal prosecution.

I want to bring to an end a bitter, bitter battle that has lasted for decades and which in my view is completely pointless

Gunter Verheugen, industry commissioner

The decision to back down was made by Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen.

His role includes trying to improve the EU's reputation in member states - and in an interview with the BBC, he admitted the EU had been making itself unpopular on an issue that didn't really matter.