5 MAY 2007, Page 28

The EU elephant

Sir: Rod Liddle (‘A normal trip with Worst Late Western’, 28 April) wondered why John Major’s government, in the shape of Michael Heseltine, privatised the railways.

It was the EU, of course, under the separation of rail ownership — EC Directive 91/440, amended by 2004/51/EC, which limits nationalised industry’s subsidies by government. The same thing is happening to rural post offices, with the EU restricting subsidy to £150 million until 2008, when it will cease completely.

The EU elephant in the room is always there when the government scrambles to explain itself on unpopular laws and actions.

Brian J. Singleton Baslow, Derbyshire