SIR - A sizeable majority of the electorate do not rank membership or otherwise of the European Union very highly on their lists of political priorities, proved yet again by the dismal performance of anti-EU candidates in May's elections.

This is not to say, however, that Eurosceptics do not have a genuine argument to advance.

Yet exaggerations peddled by UKIP correspondent Jason Smith are actually counter-productive to that argument.

For instance, he writes (T&A, May 29) that "EU law has primacy over ours in most areas". In fact, the reverse is the truth.

Trade and industry, employment legislation and certain aspects of immigration are indeed controlled by the EU, but the subject which electors find most important are still firmly the exclusive preserve of Westminster, having little or no input from Brussels.

Health, education, taxation, pensions and benefits, law and order, foreign policy etc all fall into this category.

I think Mr Smith might find his electoral fortunes improved if he tried a more balanced approach, rather than indulging in swivel-eyed rants.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley