NEW Labour tries to suggest that Lady Thatcher dropped Mr Hague in it by insisting she would never agree to join the single currency.

By contrast, one might speculate that, as someone still representing leadership qualities to many and in outside the party, her saying the unsayable offers a useful backdrop to orthodox party policy.

This would give many hope that possibly, after a change in leadership, a firm policy such as this might be adopted and therefore that a Conservative vote will not be wasted.

There is division in both major parties on European policy. Respected, thinking Labour supporters agree with her.

There are a number of organisations advocating this containing people from all parties. New Labour needs honestly to face up to this; the case is not based on hysteria, traditionalism or xenophobia.

The New Labour leadership does not offer open debate about his ostensibly; its mind is made up. This year the Swiss voted by 76.7 per cent against starting negotiations to join the EU. The Bern government spun the result as the Swiss believing that the "time was not right" and reaffirmed its desire to seek membership.

Similarly, we in the UK are told that a referendum will be held if the time is right early in the next parliament.

If the Blair government is given a "no" this time might it return on the subject when the next time seems right until it gets the answer it wants? Electorally, it needs to dispense with the smokescreen of timing and five economic tests and take on the principle.

WENDY HANDS, Upton-upon-Severn.