MADAM - The UK Commissioner, the former PR man, (Lord) Jonathan Hill now has the portfolio of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union - not unimportant.

However, whatever Jonathan Hill's allocated portfolio, the UK Commissioner is only one of 28 EU Commissioners - all unelected.

The facts are clear.

The UK has insignificant influence in the European Commission - and, indeed, within the entire European Union.

It follows that the endlessly repeated pledge for meaningful renegotiation is yet another politician's promise that cannot be met.

It is not going to happen.

William Dartmouth

Member of the European Parliament, (UK Independence Party) Exeter