IN 1973, Britain joined what we were told was only a trading bloc, a “Common Market”. That was never the case. Ever closer economic, political and monetary union was always the aim and now it has been achieved. The European Superstate will be a reality when a president and a foreign minister are appointed.

Tony Blair promised a referendum to see if the British people were willing to transfer more power to Brussels. He did that to boost his chances of winning the 2007 General Election. It worked.

Gordon Brown became Prime Minister and he signed the Lisbon Treaty without the promised referendum.

David Cameron then gave a “cast-iron guarantee” that, if elected, he would hold a referendum on this crucial issue.

But he has buckled under pressure. There won’t be a referendum. Again, the British people have been betrayed.

Mr Cameron says if he wins the forthcoming General Election he will seek to renegotiate our EU membership terms. He wants a number of opt-outs to restore some of our sovereign powers.

To succeed, he needs to persuade all 26 other European heads of government to agree to that. The sky will be darkened by squadrons of flying pigs before that happens.

Jim Allan, Hartlepool