CHRIS Davies MEP accuses those opposed to the Single Currency of feeding the public a daily diet of lies, and complains that the Government has not carried out a sensible debate (Your Letters, Feb 4).

I totally agree with his comments about the sensible debate, as the people have not been given any real information with regard to the EU since it was first contemplated and introduced as the Common Market . . . "just a free trade area", we were told, without any loss of sovereignty.

We were warned of massive unemployment in 1975 if we came out. Now Chris Davies uses the same bogeyman.

However, there is something more sinister than lies and that is being kept in the dark altogether. During the debate on Maastricht we were denied a referendum and refused a copy of the Treaty, with the excuse that we would not understand it! Having obtained a copy, I have come to the conclusion that the majority of the pro-Euro MPs don't seem to understand it themselves. Mr Davies and his ilk devalue the opposition to the Single Currency by linking us to the Tory Eurosceptics when thousands of us, including myself, some New Labour MPs, and individuals in pressure groups and smaller parties, have been opposed to every stage of it. As to the the Eurosceptics, they are living in Cloud Cuckoo Land if they think that they can be in Europe but not ruled by it.

The Single Currency debate is a misnomer in itself. It is just one aspect of the "European Money Union", within which we will be ruled by a European system of central banks which will be immune from any influence by member states or any other organisation.

As for this Government, they continue to repeat the same meaningless phrase: "We will join when the economic conditions are right". Just what those "economic conditions" are they do not say, neither do they say "right" for whom. Recent experience would suggest right for business.

As to the most important aspect, our democratic rights of self-determination, this is completely ignored. Perhaps as Chris Davies is anxious for a sensible debate, he might give a more convincing argument of his case instead of simply dismissing any opposition as "lies".

JIM HOMEWOOD,

Carr Avenue, Prestwich.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.