THE UK Independence Party had the benefit of the 'politics' slot at the end of Channel 4 News on June 26.

It seems that the emotional and intellectual basis for their virulent anti EU stance is so bankrupt that the best they could do with this opportunity was to interview an obscure US politician whose contribution was so memorable that I can't remember a word of it.

It should not come as any surprise that the US has a vested interest in keeping the UK out of the Eurozone.

The last thing George W. Bush wants is a strong united Europe which can stand in the way of his ambitions. N.G Chanley fails to see the contradiction between his opposition to the UK being involved in Iraq and his opposition to the EU.

If the UK had been part of a United States of Europe we would not have gone to war in Iraq. Writers from the 'Democracy' movement keep banging on about our loss of 'freedom' as a result of our participation in the EU. Please get real.

The people in the Eurozone from Ireland to Finland are just as culturally different, patriotic, happy and cheerful (or otherwise) as they always have been.

The EU is not responsible for our public transport being an utter shambles, our health service being in disarray, and the Government's total impotence when a bunch of executives in Detroit close the Luton car factory for no better reason than the fact that German workers are harder to sack than British ones.

This passion for our 'freedoms' never seems to apply when those freedoms are under threat from the USA. So despite Tony Blair's great effort (at the UK Taxpayers expense) on behalf of George Bush, there are Britishcitizens still held by the US without trial or representation at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. They may or may not be terrorists but that is not the point. They are entitled to the rule of law.

How's this for a scenario. By 2012 the UK has become the 51st State of the Union. King William has a ceremonial role that reflects the re-unification that was severed by the War on Independence, (Charles & Camilla are married and sidelined), and has palaces in Los Angeles, Florida (Disneyland) & London. In 2016 Tony Blair runs for president and gets elected.

This seems very consistent with the eurosceptics attitude so why not go for it?

Mike Turner,

Lightburne Ave

St Annes on Sea