Cynical Tories in covert surrender to Brussels

The Labour and Liberal Democrat position on the proposed European Union constitution is clear: they are in favour of it, and the ceding of the last vestiges of British independence, to a state called Europe.

However, the Conservative Party’s sudden scepticism towards the EU demands examination. This is the party which, while feigning support for Britain’s vital interests and sovereignty, signed the treat-ies of Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice. Each of these treaties surrendered more power to Brussels.

The Labour and Tory parties have both made much play of the so-called "red lines" over which they will not negotiate nor retreat from, despite the fact that over 30 years, apart from Margaret Thatcher’s re-bate, not a single red line has been held, and retreat has become rout.

It is instructive, therefore, to discover, that Michael Howard, the Conservative Party leader, has demanded that all Tory candidates in next week’s elections, sign up to the party’s recent deal with the ultra-federalist, left-leaning European Peoples Party. Failure to sign would lead to deselection.

What is the EPP action plan the Tories have pledged themselves to? Phasing out the national veto; a pan-European president; a pan-European tax; and a single currency.

Even for a party which has conserved nothing in the British interest for 30 years, the alliance with the EPP suggests the most covert and abominable surrender of Britain’s interests imaginable.

For the Tory Party to proclaim defence of the realm, so to speak, is a cynical attempt to tap into an electorate whose gut feeling is mistrust of an alien bureaucracy which cries democracy but strangles our independence.

MM HENDERSON

Endrick Gardens

Balfron, Stirlingshire

The European elections have patently failed to set the heather alight, and this is not helped by the fact that we, the voters, now vote for party lists and not for individuals. Many of us don’t know who the majority of these characters are who want us to send them to Brussels after 10 June.

What we need is a return to the previous system, where people knew who the MEP for their region was, and they could, more importantly, be put under adequate public scrutiny.

DAVID MIDDLETON

Garscube Avenue

Glasgow

At this European election, Scots will elect seven MEPs. If Scotland was independent, we would have 14 MEPs representing us, and we would also have a seat in the Council of Ministers and at the United Nations.

Unless we wish to continue to have our vital interests misrepresented by the United Kingdom, Scots must vote for independence and for independent Scottish parties.

While Labour is largely pro-European and the Tories (and other similar-sounding parties such as the United Kingdom Independence Party) are fairly anti, both parties prefer to keep Scotland as a devolved region of Europe rather than a full member state.

The SNP, SSP and Greens, however, support vastly im-proving our relationship with the EU by asserting our independence. They differ on what that relationship would be, but all see our country’s autonomy as very important.

JOE MIDDLETON

Grove Street

Edinburgh

It is a bit rich for the SNP to complain about the pulling of a BBC programme on the decline of the fishing industry (your report, 31 May). What right has the SNP to jump on the fishing industry bandwagon?

The SNP supports membership of the European Union, and so, by extension, it must also support the common fisheries policy.

You cannot be a member of a club and only abide by the rules you want. It is all or nothing.

JOSEPH SMITH

Chairman, UKIP Scotland

Clover Park Lane

Patna, Ayrshire