n BARRIE Dobson (You Say, Monday, December 23) denounces E F Showell and says: "I do not believe that there is any obstacle that would prevent a member state from leaving should it so wish".

It has been stated several times that, once a member state is in, it stays in. There's no way out. That's why many people in Britain were always so opposed joining.

PETER ALCOCK, Upton Snodsbury.