I GET the impression that Mr D Lowe (Letters, March 9) does not have a very high opinion of the intellect of the British people.

He seems to think that they will slavishly follow their politicians without pausing to think for themselves about the common currency.

I suspect that most people are like myself and do not really care what the name of their currency is, but are only concerned about getting enough of it to maintain a decent lifestyle.

I also strongly suspect that the real reason that big business and their allies, the Tory party, are opposed to the euro is that it will be too easy for people to make a comparison between prices in England and those in the rest of Europe and query why they are paying three euros for what their foreign cousins are only paying one.

I agree also with Councillor D Pearson (Letters, March 2), that what political parties say one day can quickly change to suit their purpose.

In the Conservative manifesto of 1983, they stated "the Labour party wants Britain to withdraw from the community because it cannot compete inside." They also stated that "withdrawal would be disastrous for this country" and they sought "to seek the removal of unnecessary restrictions on the free movement of goods, etc, between member states."

What greater restrictions than different currencies?

L LAWES, Bold Street, Blackburn.

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