HOW did we lose it? Were we careless or just uncomprehending? Where is it and can we get it back?

What's been lost? - pride and confidence in our own country. The present fiasco over BSE has highlighted just where we stand in the European Union. Alone.

Why do we never ever hear about the French and German cases of BSE? (there are plenty). Why are our governments, past and present, content to stand impotently by and witness the destruction of yet another of our backbone industries?

Why do we always follow the EU rules (which other member states ignore), often at great cost to ourselves in a pathetic attempt to 'lead in Europe' or be at the 'heart of Europe'?

We need a British agricultural policy and a ministry which implements that policy on behalf of Britain and ministers who can make decisions instead of whining that their 'hands are tied' every time there is a crisis.

We need ministers who can produce genuine aid where the need is greatest, instead of smoke and mirrors packages of pretend aid because the EU will not allow them to do anything else.

None of these things we can have while remaining in the EU.

What we lack is not the ability to ordain a prosperous future for ourselves, but the very qualities that European integration has taken away: our pride and self-confidence.

VAL COWELL, North West Press Officer, UK Independence Party, Northwood Way, Poulton le Fylde.

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