SIR - I cannot understand why the issue of EU membership is considered so minor by the major parties.

As all three are out of step with a large number of the electorate over this matter and hold almost identical opinions, I strongly suspect some kind of compact between them not to raise the issue.

Recently the Conservative MP for Shipley, Philip Davies, attempted to get the problems caused by red tape, excessive regulation and bureaucracy imposed by the EU on British business and commerce, debated in the Commons.

He was slapped down by the Leader of the House, Jack Straw, who told him that any negative debate on EU matters was not allowed by agreement with the front benches on both sides of the House.

At the moment all we have on the side of those who are anti-EU is the UKIP airing a well-presented and well-argued case against continuing membership and working valiantly but with inevitable minimal success in Brussels to derail the EU monolith.

I cannot wait for the next EU election in 2009 when, being PR, and with the evidence of the last one, I expect a UKIP landslide.

Stewart Hanson, Collier Lane, Baildon