RICHARD O Whiting (Letters, April 9) accuses me of myths not facts. Here are just a few facts:

Our attempt at joining the ERM cost us billions plus bankruptcies and unemployment.

Our interest and mortgage rates will be set in Frankfurt.

Both Italy and Belgium have uncontrolled government debts.

Germany has enormous debts in health and pension funds.

There are at this present time 17 million unemployed in the EU.

70 per cent of our laws are now made in Brussels.

As of today the Euro has lost six per cent against the pound and ten per cent against the dollar.

After 25 years of EU membership, the United States still remains our biggest single country trading partner.

In the ten years 1987-1997, our current account deficit with the EU accounts to £130 billion most of it incurred with the introduction of the single market.

Perhaps Mr Whiting might like to consider these few facts and reconsider, but I doubt it.

Lew Speight,

Shipton by Beninbrough,

York.

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