I WOULD like to correct a few misconceptions concerning our dealings with the European Union. Ms E Whittaker (HAS, May 15) believes that education, health, and local government, for example, are safe from EU interference.

At a recent debate on May 11, entitled Who Rules Britain, Labour MP Gisela Stuart, with unusual honesty for a Europhile, admitted that the Lisbon Treaty would make this interference a certainty and in ten or 15 years time, we would lose a generally tax-funded NHS.

Concerning the scrutiny of new legislation, Lord Trimble later complained how the Scrutiny Committee shockingly meets in secret and pointed out that only five per cent of new EU legislation is actually debated in Parliament.

Another myth is that EU legislation smooths trade between countries. Ask the Federation of Small Businesses whether their businesses have thrived as a result. They must comply even if they don’t export to the Continent.

If anything, our EU exports are now less than before we joined.

Leaving the EU would not affect exports or imports into Europe anyway, therefore no jobs would be lost.

So why are we EU members?

Because the EU is a politicians’ gravy train. Is that being too cynical? Quite possibly not.

Charlotte Bull, UK Independence Party, Darlington.