Christmas came early for the North West's Euro realists in the shape of final proof, if any were needed, of the self-serving opportunism exhibited by Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies, as he was arrested in the full glare of publicity to support the legalisation of cannabis.

The Greater Manchester Assistant Chief Constable correctly attacked Mr Davies for not confining his protests to the European political institutions and for wasting the time of his police officers.

Is this the same Mr Davies who on June 13, 2000, said in the European Parliament: "I am sure that I am not the only person in this Parliament to have lost friends or family through smoking. The fact is that if all the laws on drugs which apply in most countries across the European Union were applied consistently, then tobacco manufacturers would all be locked up behind bars and condemned as murderers for deliberately making their products addictive." End quote. Is this man fit to represent the North West anywhere?

In stark contrast to Mr Davies we do have in our country men of high principle who are breaking the law by taking a stand against the criminalisation of traders serving their customers in imperial weights and measures.

When Steve Thoburn and Neil Herron drew that line in the sand and said, "No more", they found over 50 million people standing right behind them.

Their fight is not with metrication but with their local/government and the EU. Imagine their surprise to discover themselves on a list of candidates in the prestigious EV50 Awards. The awards were to honour men and women who made their mark on the European Voice.

December 4 found Steve and Neil in Brussels attending a black tie gala evening in the marbled opulence of the Palais d'Egmont. First came the result for the "Politician of the Year" won by the Danish Eurosceptic MEP Yens-Peter Bonde. Next up came the "Campaigner of the Year" category. The winners by a landslide were two Sunderland market traders, Steve Thoburn and Neil Herron.

Neil Herron spelt it out for the European Union elite as he said: "We will not tolerate the European Union acting over and above the laws made by our own democratically elected sovereign parliament and we will not tolerate our own elected representatives turning a blind eye as we are over-run by bureaucracy."

These men put our politicians to shame. Christmas has not come early because of Mr Davies' farcical behaviour. It has arrived early because of people like Steve and Neil. Thank you gentlemen.

Val Cowell, NW Press Officer, UK Independence Party, Poulton-le-Fylde.