WHEN France held its currency referendum only a few years ago, 50.95 per cent of the French voted in favour of joining the single currency.

The British euro referendum will require, for voting purposes, an extreme simplification of the pros and cons.

There will be strident headlines in the Press and soundbites on TV. Personalities will influence voters more than well-reasoned arguments.

The cornerstone of our democracy is still, we hope, parliamentary representation of the people and we expect our representatives to devote themselves on our behalf to matters of state which we cannot personally influence.

It is surely a mockery of parliamentary principle to require the issues of the greatest importance to bypass our representatives and be referred back to those who elected them.

SIDNEY CULLIS, Worcester.