IN the build-up to the last election, all politicians promised that we would be given a referendum regarding further European integration.

We are now being told that monetary union (EMU) is inevitable, albeit not in this parliament.

It may be semantics, but monetary union is the same as European integration, which is the same as federalism, because of the Golden Rule, which, you will recall, is that, "He who has the gold rules."

In other words, all EU fiscal policies will be devolved to a bunch of unelected bankers in Frankfurt overseen by sympathetic MPs.

Big business, for self interest, may find federalism and EMU attractive.

But we are a democracy and it is for every voter to be convinced that now is the time for us to throw in our lot with the mainland.

I remain unconvinced and I am angry that this government has already taken a decision, when it previously promised to put to the people first. The welcome voting in of an alternative government earlier this year was not on a ticket for European federalism.

Nor was it on a ticket of arrogance and dictatorship, regardless of its majority.

I would like Jack Straw and Greg Pope to take this message back to Westminster and tell us when the referendum will happen, before confirming any more future plans for merging with the EU.

PHILIP CONGDON, (former Referendum Party candidate), Hindle Fold Lane, Great Harwood.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.