From Mr Peter Hancock Sir: Despite a natural reluctance to
criticise a fellow Spectator reader. I do feel that Chris Patten entirely misses the point in his recipe for bringing democracy into the workings of the EU.
Why should English citizens ever feel an emotional commitment to a supranational body which was formed without their consent? The 1973 referendum offered us the chance to join a partnership of trading nations, not to allow a European government wide-ranging powers over our own.
Far from sharing indignation at US steel protectionism, I rather admire it. Putting one's own country first should be a priority for any politician with a sense of loyalty towards those who elected him. But, of course, the multitude of rule-makers in the European Commission have no such considerations to trouble them.
Peter Hancock
Neston, Wiltshire
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