REGARDING Jack Straw's Diary (LET, September 11), I see this as the start of the propaganda war aimed at swaying the public to accept the government line of full backing for Europe and all it stands for.

They will not allow the electorate a referendum on the new EU constitution because they fear they would lose it and then be obliged to try to renegotiate the constitution and as there is no way they could do that, they would have to withdraw from the EU.

In my opinion, not a bad thing. But Jack Straw says it would be a disaster for East Lancashire. He uses scare tactics as this their only real weapon. They cannot hold a proper debate on the EU, as they know the advantages of being in come a poor second to being out.

The Europhiles argue that 'out of Europe' we would be isolated. No such thing, do they think that all the EU countries would cease to trade with us? They sell more to us than we do to them. EU businessmen are not daft and would still trade with us whether in or out.

If the majority of EU members voted to become a superstate, which I believe, Germany, France and Italy desire, would Mr Straw and his boss go along with them?

We are almost at that stage. This new constitution makes it a practical reality.

Britain would become an offshore independent state of Europe. I prefer it to be an offshore, independent sovereign country, free to make our own decisions and keep our own laws without interference from any foreign powers.

F GRIMSHAW (Mr), Garfield Street, Accrington.