AT a time when we suffer daily annoyance by EU regulations and our country is threatened by further loss of sovereignty to the EU, I am puzzled how well-meaning people can be favourable to the Liberal Democrat party. One can only conclude they do not know what the policies of that party are.

The Liberal Democrats are very pro-EU. In their July 2003 Policy Paper 57 Prosperity at home and abroad they stated: "Liberal Democrats favour UK membership of the euro". They support adoption of the European Constitution, which would mark a giant step towards the creation of a European superstate. Both of these policies are rejected by a large majority of the British people.

Liberal Democrats were also on the losing side of the argument over a regional assembly for the North East. They want a fully-fledged European common foreign policy, a European army, EU taxes, and amazingly, the handing over of our immigration policy to the EU. No wonder that before the last general election their agents were advised 'to avoid mention of Europe during the campaign' (admitted afterwards in letter in the Liberal Democrat News, May 30, 2003).

Their Parliamentary candidates for the forthcoming general election should be asked to come clean and state their position on our relationship with Europe.

For sincere believers in ending the independence of the UK and handing over the government of the UK to Brussels the Liberal Democrats clearly offer the ideal policies.

CLLR RON FORREST Pear Tree Cottage, Lower Milton, Wookey Hole