MULTI-millionaire Paul Sykes has always been opposed to Europe and has dipped into his own considerable pockets to fund this cause.

At the time of the last General Election, the Yorkshire businessman fell out with the Conservative Party after he became frustrated by John Major's "wait and see policy" on Europe and whether or not Britain should join the Euro.

Mr Sykes left the Tories to join James Goldsmith's Referendum Party because of what he saw as "fudge, fudge, fudge" by the party's leadership.

His departure led to a damaging split on the Right over Europe. But now Mr Sykes is heading back into the fold, encouraged by William Hague's opposition to the transfer of further powers to Brussels, and his 'save the pound' rallies. Mr Sykes has already pledged £20 million to keeping the pound.

Make no mistake, we will be hearing a lot about Europe in the run-up to the next election - much as we did at the last one. William Hague feels that he is on to a winner with his Euro-bashing and rarely sounds more confident - nay, cocky - than when pounding his Eurosceptic drum. And for fudge these days, you have to look to Tony Blair's Government, which seems to have borrowed John Major's old policy of dithering.

This lack of political leadership has left many ordinary people in deep confusion over the Euro. The Government won't commit for fear of upsetting voters and the Tories have decided to close their minds and wave the Union Flag. So between them our two main parties offer precious little true guidance.

As for Paul Sykes, the Tories should tread carefully, because the extremely rich do not give away money without wanting something in return. Multi-millionaires who are obsessed with single issues may well be happy to use their cash to buy influence. But rich men bearing gifts should not be allowed to interfere too much in the democratic process.