I DID not expect that the response to my letter (August 14) would illustrate so well the point I wanted to make: that many negative views about the European Union are based on no more than ignorance, prejudice and fear. May I offer just three examples?
Your correspondent Terence Scarborough (August 21) is worried about the rights of transsexuals to use female changing facilities. (Not, you might suppose, a subject that keeps many of us awake at night, but that?s another matter).
The rights of transsexuals, along with many more important rights, are protected by the European Court of Human Rights, which was established in 1950, seven years before the EEC. The court has no connection at all with the European Union, and even if we were to withdraw altogether from the European Union we should still belong to the Council of Europe, which we helped to found, and be subject to the judgements of its court.
The decision to use metric weights and measures in Britain was taken by Parliament in 1963, almost ten years before Britain became a member of the European Union. It was taken because the majority of people thought it was sensible, and had nothing whatsoever to do with our subsequent entry into Europe.
Bramwell Ibbott is worried that the new EU constitution might give EU law primacy over our domestic law. The constitution, as he acknowledges, is still no more than a draft, and contains many ideas that will be unacceptable to many member states. But even if the primacy clause survives to the final version, it will do no more than recognise our (and other member states?) duty to enforce laws to which we have already agreed. Not very earth shaking!
I could go on, but I doubt whether you would allow me the space. I agree with Graham Palmer that this would be a good subject for a public discussion. It is of great importance to West Devon, as well as to the UK as a whole, and it seems to stimulate much interest.
Christopher Denne
Churchtown Farm
Sydenham Damerel