IT seems to me that the current Labour policy of allowing the people of Scotland and Wales to decide whether or not to have independent governing bodies is totally unfair to the people of England.

It is English taxpayers' money which supports these countries, so it only seems fair that English people should have the right to vote whether or not they want to continue to keep these countries.

I, for one, would grant full independence to Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Ireland alone costs English taxpayers £10 billion a year - enough for considerable increases in allocations to the health service, education, etc - and, in return, it gives England nothing but trouble.

On the principle that he who pays the piper calls the tune, the people of England should have a say whether they want to continue supporting countries that wish to have independence, but still expect to receive English money.

G SMITH, Bold Street, Blackburn.

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