AS a life-long Tory I have decided to switch sides.

I am not interested in the nanny state mentality of Labour or the woolly thinking of the Liberals so I plan to join the UK Independence Party (UKIP), not for their normally silly rhetoric but for one reason only, their desire to get out from under the boot of the EU.

Maggie Thatcher was, and still is, the only leader who “handbagged” that corrupt organisation – not one leader since has had the guts.

We’ve had human rights nonsense, over-the-top environmental issues, health and safety and umpteen regulations forced on us by arrogant officials in Brussels.

How much more of this idiocy are successive British governments going to make us suffer before they say “No more”?

At least UKIP tries to fight for Britain, so I for one will give them a bit more power to do so.

And I will never waste my vote on any other party until we find a political party willing and strong enough to give us an honest referendum.

I voted for a Common Market, not a Common Dictatorship, and a vote for either of the main parties is total capitulation to Brussels.

They should hang their heads in shame.

Mrs S Harnby, Stockton