IN November, for the 15th year running, auditors refused to sign off the EU accounts. And, courtesy of Tony Blair’s naked, but failed attempt to grab the top job by giving away Margaret Thatcher’s hard fought rebate, our gross contributions will go up from £7.6bn in 2009-10 to £12bn in 2011-12.

Also, don’t forget that the UK gets the least back in the form of grants than any other EU country. But do any of the three main parties promise to get us out of this lunatic asylum? In short – no. The first step towards the recovery of Britain’s former status must be an orderly withdrawal from the corrupt and undemocratic EU. Only the UK Independence Party offers this possibility and will get my vote in May.

David Lacey, Durham.