SIR – When we are supposed to live in a “democratic” society, isn’t it amazing how little it counts for where the EU is concerned?

As although politicians of every persuasion vie for our votes, each general election, we the electorate are considered too stupid or ignorant to be trusted with any decision on the EU, whether over its policies or in our continued membership of it!

We should never forget that our entry to the then-Common Market was based on lies about free trade, and never about mass migration from the poor countries of former communist eastern Europe.

Threats of the dire consequences of leaving the EU are not confined to our political class, as it were, but extend to global capitalism which makes billions of pounds, often tax-free here.

The latest threat comes from US Ford Motor Co who talk of ending UK manufacturing altogether (which is a bit rich when no Ford vehicles have been made here for years, only engines). With the majority of our vehicles imported from Europe or non-EU Turkey, would Ford or anyone else stop exporting them to us? No.

Only politicians and global big business seem to be making money out of the EU, with the working man or OAP here suffering as a consequence. Time we were given the chance to either properly re-negotiate terms, or to escape.

D S Boyes, Upper Rodley Lane, Leeds