THIS week sees the 30th anniversary of the Common Market referendum. Although the "No" side came second, they have been proved right by events.

Since then, the public has been denied a say on how they are governed. It was practically swept under the carpet during May's election campaign and it now looks like we will not get the referendum we were promised in the Government's manifesto.

World trade barriers have come down so much that we could trade readily with today's Common Market if we were outside - many other countries do.

Think-tank Civitas worked out that without the rules and regulations from Europe, our economy could easily save £20bn a year.

That could fill the hole the Chancellor left in our pension funds, build tens of new hospitals and still take hundreds off our council tax bills.

But if we commit to staying in, we will have to pay for a Europe that wants to run almost every area of our lives. With or without the Constitution, it is already studying plans for a range of new taxes.

BETTY SIMMERSON (Mrs), Campaign Manager

New Alliance.