WHAT makes Edwin Rimmer (Citizen, May 3) think Europe will listen to a "piddling little country like we are" once they have our gold reserves, let alone lead Europe?

Does he not realise that the parliament only votes for or against proposals brought to them by an un-elected commission? We now have Regional Assemblies. Did we vote for them or the people on them? Tony Blair even wants a second chamber in the EU.

Who pays for all these un-elected bureaucrats? If we kept our own money, paid our own workers and made our own decisions they would still need our trade. Neighbours and friends with Europe not marriage is the way forward.

S Farrer,

Stanley Avenue, Cleveleys.