IT is all right for the Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, to say that Britain's referendum on the EU constitution is being ditched.

The move comes following France's decisive rejection of the treaty and the Netherlands also said no.

The move comes despite Prime Minister Tony Blair's earlier promise to hold a vote, no matter what the other countries decide.

But in the year 2004 there were 25 countries signed up to hold a referendum in each country.

So far only 11 countries have held one with nine countries saying yes and two saying no.

I am an old man of 78 years, but when I went to school you started with 25 countries signed to do something and as to date only 11 countries have done so, you have still 14 countries to go including Britain.

If Tony Blair goes back on his words to EU countries and does not hold one in Britain, can the EU countries trust his words when he has to take on the presidency of the EU on July 1, 2005? Still 14 to go yes or no.

HAROLD COOPER, Preston New Road, Blackburn.