SIR - Councillor David Candler's letter of September 7 suggests he is unaware of the meaning of xenophobia and democracy.

Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries. It is non-political and has no connection with the subject of European Union.

Democracy is a system of government in which control is exercised by the people through free and secret elections and universal adult franchise. It also means that sovereignty belongs to the people and cannot be usurped except in cases of extreme national emergency. It gives every adult the right to decide by way of a referendum, whether or not they want the UK to be an integral part of Europe.

Democracy also means tolerance of, and respect for, other people's views. This is a courtesy that appears to be foreign to Mr Candler.

I M JARVIS, Worcester