EUROPE: ONE can hardly talk about any haste in formulating the content of the EU constitution when the initiative to call a convention to discuss and decide on its content was taken in 2000 and the work continued with over 100 representatives for two years until 2003.

Observers were invited to take part and all debates were open to the public and recorded.

The constitution says: "The Union shall respect the national identities of the member states, inherent in their fundamental structures, political and constitutional."

The primacy of EU law 'in agreed areas' has existed since the 1957 Treaty of Rome. The EU has exclusive powers concerning competition rules, eurozone monetary policy, commercial policy, customs and marine conservation.

Member states retain the right of veto over social security, pensions and the protection of workers.

The draft treaty makes it clear that power flows from the sovereign nation state to the union, not the other way round.

Everyone agrees that an EU of 25 members should have a clear rule book, a constitution agreed by all. - E Whittaker, Richmond.

I FELT physically sick when I saw Tony Blair among the dignitaries in France celebrating D-Day 60 years on.

How he dared show his face is beyond belief. He has no empathy with our servicemen, neither 60 years ago nor at the present time.

He was supposed to be honouring the men and women who had fought so valiantly for our country, which now he is hell-bent on giving away to Europe.

Our leaders could have done that 60 years ago, thus saving the enormous loss of life, but chose instead to keep our freedom and our island status.

If he likes the European style of life, then why not emigrate and rid us of the worst Prime Minister this country has ever known and hopefully ever will know?

It is time we retrieved our self-respect, cut loose the hangers-on and put the Great back into Britain. - Olwyn Sewell, Crook.

WHATEVER the future holds, we have for dear life to hang on to our most precious possession - our national identity.

The present generation has been far too ready to take such things for granted and, as a result, there is now every chance we could lose them.

We are now approaching a decisive crossroads and we are all too likely to take the wrong turning, such is the intensity of the propaganda from those who would sell us out to Europe.

We need, therefore, to dwell upon the sacrifices of our forefathers and to remember that it was essential Britishness that enabled them to defend not only our freedom, but the world's. If we betray them now it will be one of the most shameful betrayals in history.

The message is clear: in all future elections vote for the UK Independence Party, or at least only for candidates who have made clear their total commitment to Britain. - T Kelly, Crook.

ELECTIONS

THE capture of Newcastle by the Liberal Democrats following that of Durham last year shows that people want to be included in the decision-making process.

The breath of fresh air blowing across the North-East allows us to speak for, and not at, people and makes us the only alternative to the party that has wielded power for so long. - Peter Freitag, President, Northern Liberal Democrats.

THOSE politicians conducting post mortems on the recent election results should note the general public are not as simple as the politicians would wish.

The dominant element among the voters was mistrust and a rejection of a dictatorial Prime Minister.

We were told the Iraqis used chemical weapons against their own people, but the main occurrence was in 1988. The Prime Minister showed Parliament lots of infrastructure including factories where, he stated, nuclear/chemical weapons were being produced.

The Prime Minister and his Foreign Secretary told Parliament the weapons inspectors had to be removed from the scene because the Iraqi declaration they had no weapons of mass destruction was sufficient proof they (the Iraqis) were lying.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, aided by the Defence Minister, were and still are responsible for laying false information before Parliament in order to achieve the vote for the invasion.

Subsequent events cast doubt on most of the facts given to the British people pre the close vote of Parliament.

Notwithstanding all that has transpired, including massive loss of life on all sides, the leader of the Labour Government still insists he was unquestionably right.

Those that supplied him the information he laid before Parliament he has promoted and honoured. - NS Connolly, Richmond.

ENGLAND FLAGS

WHILE it is heartening to see the many England flags fluttering from cars and draping buildings, it is such a pity it is all because of football.

It is also sad that many flags are made in China, rather than boosting our own manufacturing industries.

Whether we are football fans or football haters, let us enjoy the outburst of patriotism which is at least allowing everyone to fly the flag without criticism. Let us also hope that no hooligan behaviour betrays the pride in and enthusiasm for our country and football team. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

HONOURS LIST

THE item about Pete Postlethwaite, actor, (Echo, June 10) receiving the OBE brought back memories.

Your readers might be interested in the fact that Pete, named the best actor in the world by Steven Spielberg, was one of our first-class repertory company at the Forum Theatre, Billingham, in the 1970s. The company was led by Timothy West, and Peter appeared in four plays. - Les Jobson, Richmond.

EURO 2004

PEOPLE seem so full of gloom concerning our chances in the European Championship. Do not be.

We were robbed against France, and if it were not for two mistakes, we would have beaten them.

The bulldog spirit will pull us through, and I believe that we will beat Switzerland and Croatia to continue on to the next stage of the tournament.

I was moved on the Sunday when we played France. To see so much patriotism was heart-moving. People flying St George's flags from their homes and cars added extra prestige to the occasion.

I urge all of my fellow England fans not to be so downbeat, and join me and millions of others in supporting our country in its quest to be football champions of Europe. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.