Why we should come out of EU

11:51am Thursday 12th January 2006

G SCOTT (Letters, January 6) recommends that we vote for UKIP. Unfortunately, this would be a wasted vote since this party is split by a leadership dispute and unlikely to get many MPs.

I do, however, agree that we would leave the EU.

The CAP and Common Fisheries Policy have been disastrous for our farmers and fishermen, while benefiting the French and others.

The European Parliament consists of numerous MEPs from many countries with differing interests. It is impossible to get sensible decisions from an organisation of this size.

The European Parliament is very expensive. Its accounts are suspect: Auditors have refused to approve them for the second time. There have also been scandals regarding MEPs' expenses.

Britain is a "net contributor" we pay in more than we get back, a situation aggravated by Tony Blair giving up a chunk of our rebate.

There are also heavy administrative costs in paying into the EU pool and getting grants from the pool for approved projects.

Stupid and trivial regulations often emanate from the EU.

Norway and Switzerland are outside the EU and have thriving economies. The British voted for a common market, not a federal Europe.

The money saved by being outside the EU could be used to remove trade subsidies, assisting poor countries to sell their produce.

Grants could also be made to Eastern European countries to assist their development.

There is no reason why we could not continue to have trade agreements with the EU. We could also increase our trade links with Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

G T HEATH Shaw, Swindon