SIR — Jill Walmsley of West Somerset Labour Party and Amnesty International Minehead refers to Mr Liddell-Grainger not wanting 'European justice' in West Somerset (Your Letters August 2).

Ian reflects the views of many of his constituents whether of his persuasion or not.

Frankly we are tired of the European Court of Human Rights so often finding in favour of serious criminals while no apparent consideration is given to the victims of these crimes.

We feel that the law-breaking individual's rights are paramount to those of often significant numbers of direct or indirect victims and this offends the sensibilities and good common sense of the British people.

So, Jill, please tell the readership of the Free Press just what is wrong or not good enough with the British legal system that prevents it being supreme in the UK.

On the wider issue of 'Europe', I enthusiastically voted yes in the 1975 referendum because I believed our membership would strengthen trade, being a small island with a growing population and scant natural resources.

With today's rapidly growing population, boy oh boy do we need more trade now, but unfortunately the Common Market has evolved into the European Union and none of us contemplated in 1975 that voting for a stronger commercial alliance would lead us towards a European 'super state' with its challenge to our sovereignty.

Let me give an example. The UK government is currently considering extending a scheme where a 5p reduction in fuel duty is extended to more remote areas than just the north of Scotland.

Before it can implement such a policy it is legally required to seek permission from the European Commission in Brussels.

Jill, please explain to your possibly financially challenged neighbours in West Somerset how this type of governance can possibly be in the interest of either their welfare or liberty.

Why is it that the will of the freely-elected representative of your neighbours and mine can be ignored?

I am not one of those who contends that nothing good ever came out of Brussels except for their sprouts, but I am absolutely certain that Jill and her Labour Party and Amnesty International are on the wrong side of the British people when they defend the European Union or the ECHR, treat the ordinary voters like vegetables and have no awareness of the deep unease our fellow citizens have with these institutions which are ripe for reform or composting.

John Laycock,

Exford.