THE Tory election manifesto promised no more powers would be handed over to the EU without a referendum.

Undoubtedly, this dissuaded many who were considering voting UKIP to keep faith with the Conservative Party.

Additionally, the Conservatives, being the larger party, were more likely to win the election and keep the others out.

Mr Cameron’s belief in our independence then seemed to disappear until briefly manifesting itself over the issue of prisoners’ votes.

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Andrew Duff MEP has tabled a proposal to enable future EU treaty changes to be made with a four-fifths majority of member states, in an attempt to bypass the UK’s referendum lock.

He actually dared to call it the “British problem”.

This is treachery.

So why do our traditional parties support the EU? Because it pays them to. It most certainly doesn’t pay their country.

Charlotte Bull, Darlington.