SIR – In her guest column (Worcester News, June 14), Harriett Baldwin says the euro was doomed from the start because it could not function without economic and political union.

Unfortunately, she then argues in favour of the EU on the grounds that if we left we would not have access to the common market.

The fact is that we would have access to the common market in or out of the EU.

And the euro is failing for precisely the same reasons as the euro was always doomed to fail.

The EU started life as a trading alliance but has developed into a movement towards ever closer union – the euro was supposed to be a currency but was only ever a means to achieving the ever closer union which it also required if it was to survive.

Regarding access to the common market, plenty of countries export huge amounts into the EU without being members of it.

Why should we be an exception? Especially as the the UK is a huge net importer of goods, and people, from the EU.

Any barriers to trade and movement would damage EU countries way more than they would damage us.

The idea that we need to be in the EU to exert any control over it makes about as much sense as arguing to stay in a burning house or a sinking ship.

The idea of political and economic union and freedom open borders is a proven disaster. Immigration from Eastern Europe did enough damage to our economy and environment even when times were good.

We are now faced by a further wave of migration as southern European economies implode.

We need less Europe, not more. And we need a referendum to allow us to decide our relationship with the EU.

STEVE DAVIS
Worcester