NOW the tide of war in Iraq and Afghanistan has receded and all those who fled the tyranny of Saddam Hussein can wend their way back home, it's time to look at the role of the European Union.

Like cowards, they stood back and let Britain do what needed doing, with France as usual stabbing us in the back, in spite of Tony Blair driving the last nail into the coffin of British shipbuilding by giving the French contracts to practically build our two new aircraft carriers.

This money-guzzling, bureaucratic, useless so-called union with its euros and barmy directives along with the politicians who are leading us into bondage and betraying all those who died to keep Britain free should be kicked into touch.

We can then reforge the links with tried and trusted countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada etc., put the Great back into Britain and have a country we can be proud of again.

A SEDGWICK, Lyndhurst Avenue, Blackburn.