SIR, - AT the European Parliament election on June 10, a key issue for voters will be whether to abolish the Pound for the Euro.

It does not help voters when the politicians themselves don't understand the basic issues.

It is amazing that a group called the Pro-Euro Conservative Party (PEC) will be standing, as official Conservative policy already supports the Euro.

When Mr Hague voted for Maastricht in 1993, it actually committed the UK to the goal of an eventual single currency, which is why - in spite of the electioneering rhetoric - he will not rule out joining the Euro for all time.

The only real difference between the parties is the timing.

In spite of cultivating a Eurosceptic image, Hague is actually a President of the London Europe Society which favours tighter binding with Europe.

His current Euro MPs are part of the European People's Party group which welcomed the appointment of Commissioner Romano Prodi, who has called for a single European economy, army and government.

Hague's dreams about being in Europe, but not run by it, are at odds with what his own supporters are doing.

As a disillusioned Conservative who wants friendship and trade with the Continent, but not EU control of our economy and currency, I shall be ignoring William Hague's image consultants.

Like millions of others, I shall be voting for a commonsense party which stands for keeping the Pound for all time, the UK Independence Party.

Mark Taylor,

London.

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