AT the European Summit our Prime Minister agreed a deal with our European partners which will increase Britain's annual contributions to the European Union by 60 per cent. The Treasury has admitted that by 2010-11 the deal struck would cost British taxpayers £1.9billion a year.

Mr Blair had the nerve to insist this was a good deal for Britain.

I am sure that parents of children in failing schools, or patients having to wait long periods for NHS treatment, or those who are being told to work well over the retirement age to secure a decent state pension will applaud Mr Blair for his decision.

He has caved in to the other leaders of Europe over Britain's rebate, which was secured by Margaret Thatcher, without any reform of the agricultural policy which so benefits French farmers to the detriment of almost everybody else.

Just a few days ago Mr Blair insisted there would be no giving up of even part of the British rebate unless France agreed to some reform of the agricultural policy.

To his eternal shame our Prime Minister, when push came to shove and Mr Chirac representing the French made it plain he had no intention of budging on that issue sooner than be seen as a bad European, capitulated completely and Britain will pay a heavy price for it.

Councillor D PEARSON, St Michael's Court, Blackburn