IT doesn’t take a political analyst to observe that Ukip took a considerable number of votes from the Conservatives in the recent elections.

There are two reasons for this.

The Conservative-led coalition is losing the plot. One example of this was where a couple with a sick baby were unjustly accused of wasting NHS money by calling out an ambulance (Echo, May 13).

This situation arose from a lack of resources and the Government’s reforms of the NHS have caused it.

The other reason for Ukip’s popularity is the current poor state of the European Union.

However, the EU’s problems are not a reason for the UK to leave. We need to be in Europe.

Do people realise the scale of the job losses that would occur if the UK left the EU?

Ukip’s bold intention of delivering a referendum on Europe would be like the charge of the Light Brigade – a disaster waiting to happen. That is why I will never vote for Ukip.

Jeremy Whiting, Chester-le-Street