ONE-TIME UKIP leader Alan Sked, a former Liberal, was not happy with the way the EU was operating and in protest set up Political Parties, which wanted to NOT have members of the European Parliament, but to argue the point at Westminster by electing MPs here.

Eventually, he changed the name of his party to that of United Kingdom Independence of which he now does not support.

In fact, he believes them to be extremists, incompetent and racist. These are not my observations, but taken from a web-search. The point I do make is that it would appear Mr Sked is still perhaps a Liberal, who believes the EU should be better organised. To which most of us would agree. Therefore we must be in there and make that happen, as Liberal Democrats.

The Conservatives, as we all know, are at odds with each other on this issue. Labour gave into the EU, rather than stand ‘our’ ground to negotiate better deals.

UKIP have failed to elect even one MP here.

It seems that the wrong people have hijacked Mr Sked’s political party. Not forgetting one MEP has defected to the Tories, another was struck off and a further forced to go independent.

Readers must take the European Election seriously, due next May. Do not vote or support UKIP, they are destroying our country, as are the extreme right of the Conservative Party. We have very little left here in the way of manufacturing and therefore exports.

Ireland is in the EU and has the single currency. Large companies will continue to be driven out of the UK if we are anti EU.

The Conservative and Labour Party Governments have ruined all that we thought was perhaps ‘Great’ about Britain. There is only one way forward, and that is co-operation with our EU cousins. We can not stand alone against, at the moment 29 countries with 17 using the euro.

That membership is to expand.

And once the single currency starts to build, where does that leave Pound Sterling?

If Scotland did, in the unlikely event, obtain independence, do you really think England, Wales and Northern Ireland can take on the world? The answer is, “of course not”. We are broke.

As for the Green Party, that should merge with the green section of the Liberal Democrats.

Richard Grant of Burley.