It is disappointing to read that Steven Walker (Letters, November 2) resorts to personal abuse when discussing MP Douglas Carswell’s opinions.
He labels the MP’s views as “rants” and suggests he is enjoying a “cushy job” with “nice salary”, as if MPs who hold different views work harder but are paid less.
On the subject of the European Union and our sovereignty, legal powers and financial regulations, it is not so much the politicians who are “giving away” our independence as the unelected European Union which is taking these powers from us at an ever-increasing rate.
It is true that in the 2010 General Election UKIP, with an impressive one million votes, did not succeed in electing a single MP.
Yet the three mainstream parties promised the British people a referendum and then whipped their members to vote against one.
As a result, people are defecting to UKIP in increasing numbers.
Mr Walker suggests that the 100,000 signatures on the National Petition for a debate on European Union membership is “hardly an overwhelming majority of public opinion”. Yet this is the figure set by the Government itself to trigger such a debate and it was reached!
Harry Royle
Press Officer UKIP Colchester
Newcastle Avenue
Colchester
...I was deeply disappointed to see that the MP for Colchester, Bob Russell, does not trust the people of Colchester to make up their own minds as to our membership of the European Union.
Not only did Mr Russell vote against giving the British people a referendum, he went against a firm Lib Dem manifesto commitment at the General Election promising a referendum. It would appear he and his party pushed for a referendum on a new voting system people didn’t want, but were not willing to hold a referendum on our membership of the European Union as promised. Whatever your views on our membership of the European Union, the public have not had a say for more than 30 years, and in that time the European Union has changed significantly. As has cost of membership, which is now estimated at £65billion a year gross, that’s about £1,000 for every man, woman and child. If I were the Member of Parliament for Colchester I would have voted for a referendum on Monday because I trust the British people. Colchester deserves an MP who keeps promises, listens to the views of residents and acts accordingly in Westminster.
Will Quince
Prettygate Councillor
Prettygate Road
Colchester
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