Val Gibbons, of Syemour Drive, Dartmouth, writes:

Like many older folk, I’ve had decades to regret and resent my ‘yes’ vote in the 1975 referendum. We have long ago learnt that politicians knew the so-called trade agreement was geared towards an ever-expanding, federalist Europe. How can we trust the ‘in’ side?

As with the lead-up to the 1975 referendum, Brussels is happily hurling out unlimited taxpayers’ money to its ­supporters. In addition to ­profligate and unconditional everyday expenses for MEPs, their salaries and spending ­outweigh anything familiar to our national politicians.

Rich pickings are derived by think tanks, giant corporations, mega-charities, professional charities and lobbyists. Quite obviously, these will all uphold the organisation that funds their millionaire lifestyles and their children’s education. The EU has persuaded many principled people to behave very badly.

The British public used to complain vociferously about the increasing volume of petty and ridiculous changes to our rules and regulations, but for the most part we are now quietly accepting.

A recent online petition by 300,000 people, who demanded that even Brussels’ minimum five per cent VAT charge should not apply to women’s sanitary products, is a most rare example of the EU’s willingness to listen to reason and fairness after years of objections from us. That change of heart just may have had something to do with the UK’s fast-approaching referendum. It does, however, highlight the extent to which the EU’s bureaucrats have the final decision.

Mr Cameron likes to tell us we sit at the ‘top table’, but the UK rarely has its own way – ask Frau Merkel.

In the past weeks Britain wanted to legislate that internet companies provide filters to enable parents to screen out obscene sites.

EU MEPs overturned the campaign, and we can only wonder why.

The top echelon in Brussels/ Strasbourg – depending on the week – have made so many ­disastrous decisions over the years that to continue our ­journey within this unreformed and self-serving club would be madness.

By voting for independence and self-sovereignty, we can rewrite the laws that were once envied and emulated across the world. I have confidence in the common sense of the decent people of our country.