By Nick Assinder BBC News Online political correspondent

So what happened to the great pro-euro campaign that was going to grip Britain over the summer months?

For a start, it was never likely the campaign would get into full swing while most people were still on holiday - probably enjoying the benefits of the single currency.

Secondly, all attention has been focussing on the possible war with Saddam Hussein.

So, even at the height of the silly season, the euro has hardly got a look in. But all that is about to change.

Foulkes predicts October

The first signs of life came when Foreign Secretary Jack Straw last week declared that any military action against Iraq would not derail a referendum next year - provided Gordon Brown's five economic tests are met.

Mind you, he would say that wouldn't he.

Rune reading

Now, Labour's man on the Britain in Europe group, former minister George Foulkes, has claimed Tony Blair has pencilled in October next year for the referendum.

He has come to that conclusion after speaking to both the prime minister and the Chancellor about the poll.

That does not mean the PM has confided in Mr Foulkes, simply that Mr Foulkes is engaging in a bit of rune reading.

But there are plenty of reasons to think his prediction is correct and that the campaign to persuade voters to back entry into the single currency is set to move up a gear.

No one is in any doubt that the prime minister is as eager as ever to take Britain into the euro and earn a guaranteed place in the history books.

Go now

There have even been suggestions that Gordon Brown is coming around to the idea of a poll next year.

His biggest concerns will be what effect entry into the euro would have on his plans for public spending and unemployment.

If he is reassured on those scores, he will probably warm further to the idea.

Brown needs reassurances

And leaving a referendum past the end of next year, or just possibly the following spring, starts getting dangerously close to the pre-general election period.

So many believe it is a case of go now or postpone until after the next general election.

Finally, the famous five economic tests are pretty flexible and some City experts have claimed they have already been met.

Holiday mood

In any case, the final decision on whether to take this massive step is, ultimately, a political one.

There will only be a referendum when the government believes it can win a yes vote and entry will not pitch Britain into a Black Wednesday-style economic disaster.

Meanwhile, ministers had hoped that holidaymakers would return from the continent full of the joys of the euro and demanding its introduction here.

So far there have been few signs of that massive change in public opinion, but pollsters will undoubtedly be sharpening their pencils to test the post-holiday mood.

Probably the clearest indication of the government's current thinking, however, will come at the Labour conference in Blackpool later this month.

All eyes will now be on the big speeches, particularly those by the Chancellor and the Prime Minister, for signs of their intentions.

The possible war with Iraq will undoubtedly hang over all these decisions, but most believe the time is now imminent when the government will clarify its position.