THE criticism by Mr T McDonald of my letter on the matter of prisoners being able to vote, contained so many accusations that I had to re-read it to see why he was so irate.

I didn't oppose the principle of prisoners voting, but I voiced an objection to the fact that the decision would be taken outside the United Kingdom. This is not to say the Germans, French or Italians are less capable than ourselves, but I don't wish to rely on them to make decisions for us.

My wish is that Britain should once more become a free and independent country, trading and co-operating in friendship with all other nations, to improve the lot of all humanity and to safeguard the environment. This is not the philosophy of "narrow nationalism," in the usual sense of that term.

Nothing I wrote could be interpreted reasonably as "stirring up nasty feelings" against our fellow Europeans.

But friendship between nations need not mean political union, as part of a super-state.

If, as a nation, we wish to abandon our independence, and join such a union, then I should respect the majority decision, but most of today's voters have never had the chance to vote on this, one way or the other.

John Coleman,

Chairman,

UK Independence Party Bromsgrove.