C N Burkett (‘Take note of EU opinion poll, MP’, August 8), refers in the first paragraph to a poll that claims 71 per cent of voters wish to leave the EU in favour of a free trade area, (I paraphrase).

One of the first rules of quoting statistics of this kind is to give a source reference. Who was polled? When? How? How many people? Without this information, the figure of 71 per cent is meaningless.

Mr Burkett goes on correctly to say that both Norway and Switzerland are not EU members but trade freely with it.

Neither country has an economy similar to the UK. We are traditionally a trading nation and depend on others to buy goods manufactured or assembled here.

At the moment the UK exports slightly less than 50 per cent of its goods to the EU (see ONS statistics).

If the UK leaves the EU, an option in a proposed referendum, we would face negotiating a deal with the EU. I doubt that the EU will make it easy and that tariffs won’t apply.

Both Norway and Switzerland have to abide by the trading regulations imposed on them by the EU, simply because they are not full members and have no say in the decision making process.

The EU is an imperfect organisation and needs reform. Our influence will eventually help this process to achieve one of the most productive trading blocks in the world, to the benefit of all.

I hope our MP reads this too.

CHRIS BIVAND Eardisland Herefordshire