SINCE 1975 all Britain’s trade arrangements have been organised by the EU’s (French) Trade Commissioner – very often in ways that are contrary to Britain’s interests.

David Cameron wants to open up free trade with Pakistan to help mitigate the effects of the appalling floods in that country, something I applaud, but the fact that he cannot without the permission of France simply highlights the powers that the UK has given up to the EU.

We in the UK Independence Party strongly believe that the UK should engage with the whole world, and in particular our Commonwealth partners in a rules-based free trade zone.

We should be moving to free trade with everybody, not just for humanitarian reasons but also for good economic common sense.

Mr Cameron should give us the referendum on Europe he once promised – together with a recommendation to vote “No”.

Dave Brothers, UKIP County Durham.