Suffers from a lack of political legitimacy

I DID not see the original letter from Richard Guise that prompted the recent flurry of correspondence but it prompts me to add this: Ironically it was David Cameron who recently put his finger on why we cannot remain in the EU.

He said of the Brussels Parliament that it was hard to see it as ‘our’ parliament. Exactly. The direction of travel of the EU is towards a United States of Europe, with Brussels taking over much of the government roles from the national governments. This cannot happen unless the people give their consent and they have not, nor are they likely to.

The European Project suffers from a fatal lack of political legitimacy. Europe has only ever been sold to the British people in terms of economic advantage, yet it has always been, first and foremost, a political project. (Even in economic terms its success, for us, is questionable. Despite, or maybe because, we are in the single market we have a dangerous trade deficit with the rest of the EU but a trade surplus with the rest of the world).

In 2015 Europe was not such a big part of the election campaign so a euro-sceptic like me could stand for parliament and represent the Liberal Democrats.

This time it is different. Tim Farron is taking a stridently anti-Brexit line, and a Brexit supporter like me cannot reasonably stand this time around. Last year I told my local colleagues they would have to find another candidate and I am sure he or she will be announced soon. I wish them the best of luck.

Steve Coltman Belvoir Drive, Loughborough,