ODD, isn't it, that one of the front runners for the leadership of the Conservative Party can be so out of tune with the rank-and-file Party membership on the major issue facing this country?

That issue is "who governs us ?" - failed, unelected, European Union politicians in Brussels, or our own democratically-elected government in Westminster.

Kenneth Clarke gives the impression that the European issue is off the agenda for the next few years with the euro losing credibility, and the "no" votes in the referenda on the EU constitution.

The true situation is that the "no" votes have made little difference, and aspects of the constitution are being imposed on us bit by bit whether we like it or not.

In true EU fashion, "no" appears to means "yes", and business carries on as before! Do the Tories want a leader who will go down the road holding hands with Tony Blair to full EU political union with total loss of our national independence? If so, they deserve the fate that awaits them.

RICHARD CHAMINGS,

UK Independence Party,

Malvern.