YET again Chris Davies MEP is in a state of denial (Citizen letters, last week).

Despite his fantasising, this EU constitution will further marginalize Westminster, with any rearrangement of powers being merely between EU institutions.

These bodies would be consulted in Brussels while national parliaments would, we are told, be informed (Title IV, articles 1-24).

Also, any attempt at initiative at a national level would be a protracted process requiring support from one third of the rest and be finally judged by the Commission alone (protocol pars 5 and 6).

The constitution document needs to be studied to see the enormity of its implications for parliamentary democracy. Here one further example must suffice.

Britain would be permitted to remain on the UN perm-anent security council but would be forced to accept that 'the EU Minister for Foreign Affairs be asked to present the Union's position' on an increasing area of foreign policy decided in Brussels (Title V, Article III 206).

We, fortunately, have the compelling authentic evidence of Labour's Gisela Stuart, who was at the heart of the constitution convention. She has expressed dismay that so many politicians have their eyes on a career at European level and see national parliaments as an obstacle. Consequently, she confirms that more power is going to the centre.

This constitution involves the future of our democracy. The details are not only complex, they also involve an insidious 'organic' process which allows for surreptitious development of policy away from public scrutiny.

Therefore, a national examination, a debate and a referendum are essential in a modern democracy.

C Francis Warren, Lancaster.