I SUPPOSE British left-wing Europhobes, such as Denis Skinner, will consider that they have every reason to be jubilant concerning the French "non" and the similar Dutch response to the proposed European constitution. They will regard it as a "double whammy" for them.

However, the more numerous British right-wing Europhobes should hesitate before being too triumphant concerning this double decisive rejection of the suggested constitution.

These continentals did not reject the idea of a constitution for Europe. They threw out the particular constitution that was proposed -and with good reason.

Blair's Tory Mark II British government, with the approval of the USA had insisted on the proposed constitution being heavily in favour of free market economics at the expense of welfarism.

As it happens, Western Europeans value their welfare states and have no intention of surrendering their rights, if they can help it.

Also, many older French people may have had in mind the declaration many years ago by the greatest Frenchman, the late Charles de Gaulle.

He stated that the British were Atlanticists and would never be good Europeans. No doubt Europhobes in the UK gleefully agree with him! Although I favour the European idea myself, I too, reluctantly, now think de Gaulle was probably right.

D E MARGRETT,

Worcester.