RECENTLY through your letters page, John Marjoram suggested that prior to the EU referendum the pro and cons of the UK’s membership might be discussed in your newspapers.

Might I begin that debate with the following tale.

This year my daughter invited me to stay with her family in Oxford over the Easter period.

As a small ‘thank you’, and in addition to the traditional chocolate eggs, I decided to purchase some Single Gloucester cheese from a local organic produce shop.

Upon inquiry the local retailer/producer said: "Sorry, no can do."

They explained that they had given up a very unequal battle with EU regulations concerning the sale and designation of their product.

The reasons for such non-production sounded complex, and Bank Holiday shop hours and local bus timetables precluded further talk on the subject.

Two days later, however, useful information arrived in the shape of an article in The Observer newspaper entitled “It looks like Stilton, it tastes like Stilton, smells like Stilton, so why is it called Stichelton?”

I commend the article’s content to your readers, as it explains the vagaries of the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) – a bizarre and arrogant bit of legislative fluff dreamed up by overpaid EU legislators in Brussels which seeks to destroy the heritage of local produce if they possibly can.

Single Gloucester has been made to a formula over 400 years old – the EU seeks to change that.

This idiocy might be acceptable if it wasn’t for other EU rules concerning other foodstuffs and their 'origins'.

Courtesy of Farming Today on BBC Radio 4 recently, it was revealed that Australian beef can be imported to the UK (to Hereford in the case in point), be trimmed of some of its fat and then, quite legitimately, be sold as 'Hereford steak' the following day in local restaurants.

The same rules do not apply to lamb.

(How Aussie beef can be shipped to the UK and the producers still show a profit is a mystery I’ve yet to unravel. UK farmers should beat them hands down).

The EU behaviour may well be relying on the template set by the head of the commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, who Molly Scott-Cato MEP has already seen fit to criticise in your pages.

Most people may be unaware that about 18 months ago – after he had formulated tax-evasion schemes for big business whilst working in Luxembourg – Juncker unilaterally sacked the EU’s chief scientific advisor, the British scientist Professor Anne Glover, because he – as a layman – disagreed with her findings on food production.

He then scrapped the chief advisor's post altogether.

Hardly a democratic state of affairs one would have thought and not the actions of an organisation that one could have faith in.

I’m glad to report however, that the fightback has begun – the aforementioned local organic cheese producer is selling Single Gloucester under another name – Gloucester Rebellion – and very tasty it is too.

Vive La Revolution!

Roger Gough

Minchinhampton