AS A centre-left Europhile Conservative I was devastated last Friday as I felt that all the progress the UK had contributed over the last four decades to democratise and modernise the European continent had been betrayed by people who are hostile and do not want to understand the benefits of being a part of the EU.

Since 1973 I wanted to contribute so obtained a degree in European legal studies at Exeter University and with this knowledge was able to apply via the European Commission and Court to get damages – in one case £400,000 – for small British milk producers.

I also became involved in the operation of the Milk Quota Regime which was a successful venture in bringing milk production into balance in the 1980s.

The UK then was at “the heart of Europe” and in the economic and business zone pushed forward the creation of the single market in 1994 – a considerable achievement for our trade within Europe – and assisted in the creation of environmental directives.

At a local level with a European grant we set up a very successful twinning organization with a town in Brittany, France and a lot of fun and mutual understanding has benefitted the town of Ilminster.

I also, as a member of a European agricultural association, became involved with the introduction of Poland into the EC and made friends with Polish lawyers from Krakow.

How poignant that on the 100th year anniversary of the terrible Battle of the Somme we should opt out of a union which has kept the peace in Europe the past 70 years!

Martin Rawstorne, Ilminster

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