Headline (From Stroud News and Journal)

Headline

Madam - The UK Independence Party reminds me of Monty Python searching for some mythical Holy Grail. We should indeed be working to make European institutions more democratic, transparent and accountable. The greatest danger to our freedom, though, comes not from Europe but from apathy, from people not bothering to vote.

The UKIP demonstrates that particular kind of myopic, English hubris that does none of us credit. UK Independence has not really existed since the end of the First World War. What independence we might have had, was further compromised when the Americans lent us the money to fight the Second World War. In return we became their unsinkable aircraft carrier in the east and had 'Special Relationship'. Which meant that we did as we were told.

The last British Prime Minister to act in the mistaken belief that he was the head of an independent country was Sir Anthony Eden. He went to war with Colonel Nasser in 1956. President Eisenhower swiftly reminded Sir Anthony upon which side his bread was buttered and he disappeared from public life soon after.

As for Europe; during the last few years I have been on holiday, or visited friends and family in Spain, France, Holland, Germany, Italy, Austria and Greece. Compared to Euro Land, the land of the Pound has greater divisions between rich and poor, more child poverty, poorer education, no integrated transport system, worse social services and a second rate health service.

So, if you've got plenty of money, if you don't need an education, you don't need to travel very far, if you are never going to get old and you are never going to get ill; then the UKIP certainly can show Johnny Foreigner a thing or two.

John Raggett, Hollies Hill, Nailsworth AB