PAUL Blanchard ('Get real on the EU', Letters, April 6) has got this wrong.
The proposed European Union constitution would increase its fields of activity, notably on defence, and give the EU more of the characteristics of a state in its own right.
Labour councillor Blanchard implies the widespread pressure for a referendum on the proposed constitution is just Tory Euro-scepticism. It is not.
In fact, parties across the political spectrum - the Greens, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives - have called on the Government to hold a referendum on this far-reaching EU constitution.
Who is against your having a vote? Only New Labour.
Other European countries will hold referenda.
In France, Denmark, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands, people will get a chance to vote on this issue.
In Britain Tony Blair wants to decide it all himself; we are not to be trusted to decide for ourselves. It is a disgrace.
John Norris,
International co-ordinator, Green Party,
Hampden Street,
York.
...COUN Paul Blanchard extols the virtues of the EU and its institutions and how we won our case against France over British beef. Try telling that to British farmers.
Mr Blanchard should take time out and indulge in the political agenda of Brussels, and all its departments of propaganda aimed at school children to the church. The EU is an ongoing abomination to democracy, freedom of speech and British democratic rights.
John Smith,
New Street,
Barrow,
Cumbria.
Updated: 09:55 Friday, April 09, 2004
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