NEGOTIATIONS for a treaty establishing a constitution for Europe are due to be concluded by June.

The treaty provides for common policies to be established on employment, commerce, the economy, foreign affairs and defence. Moreover, it declares that European Union law shall have primacy over the law of the United Kingdom.

It represents a massive transfer of power from our Parliament at Westminster to Brussels, for which the Government does not have a mandate.

The case for a referendum is incontrovertible, therefore, to give to us, the people of this country, the opportunity to say for ourselves whether we agree that Mr Blair may surrender our independence in this way.

I urge all your readers to write to their MP demanding that the Government hold a referendum before it ratifies the treaty.

WL Harrison,

Queen's Court,

Fetter Lane,

York.

Updated: 09:40 Saturday, April 03, 2004