THE one positive thing that can be said for MEP Chris Davies is that he is persistent, but telling the lie often enough still does not make it the truth. By stating that: "The EU is founded on principles which the British hold precious (August 31) he displays ignorance of those freedoms and democracy that we in the UK hold so dear.

The democrats in the EU ordered the Danes to repeat their Maastricht referendum when they voted against ratification in 1992 and were told to 'get it right this time'. Is that Mr Davies' idea of democracy?

In 1994 the European Parliament voted against a Commission Directive concerning motorcycles by 252 votes to 28 only to discover tat the rules demanded that a minimum of 260 votes were needed to block the directive.

Perhaps that's Mr Davies' idea of democratic legislature but it is not the British model.

In 1995 Neil Kinnock was to address the European Parliament to announce a £70k million transport project --the EU's biggest ever product -- he was allowed a mere three minutes to address elected MEPs.

Perhaps one day Chris Davies may actually substantiate his statements about the EU with hard facts but, as ever, he is long on historical rhetoric and frighteningly short on facts.

Come on Mr Davies tell the electorate, without personal denigration of Eurorealists, exactly how is the EU more democratic than the systems of any of the individual member states?

Cllr Gregg Beaman

Carnforth Independent