IN 1975 there was a referendum on entry to the EEC; an economic trading group. The voters then were more demographically linked to the Second World War, with the need to avoid such again and the need for UN Human Rights.

Since then, the main political parties have encouraged deeper, restricting union; the EU now and rationally a future United States of Europe.

The UK has a common language, currency and culture. Even with this stable base the interest rate and other levers of government are set for the southeast of England. The consequences are resentment and variable prosperity and progress.

A successful Euro can only be achieved with a single chancellor but comes with greater disparity between countries like Greece and Germany and regions within the EU.

Westminster is remote from the rest of the UK but we know who our MPs are, have some access to them and a voting system which gives some influence over governments. Ask the public for names of their MP, MEP and members of the EU Commission and knowledge progressively diminishes, which mirrors connection to citizens.

The pro-EU lobby has most questions to answer for the undecided voter. Why? The majority of Britons and Europeans want little more than peace, free trade, easy travel and, for few, to freely work abroad.

Why, when all this was possible in the 1960s, is it necessary to have a huge, layer of bureaucracy and government to achieve such limited desires?

Simple inter-governmental pacts or treaties could achieve those four requirements.

How many people want more politicians and unelected commissioners to decide how we are governed on a daily basis?

Why do we need identical laws for people throughout European countries which have diverse cultures?

The advantage of an organised, cooperative EEC-type institution can be seen but not political integration, logically leading to a United States of Europe. The only beneficiaries would be politicians and bureaucrats.

The last multi-lingual, multi-cultural union of countries was called the USSR which disintegrated in bloodshed.

Are there convincing arguments to persuade voters for a remote, legalistic, undemocratic, United States of Europe?

ROD GARVEY Bush Bank