MY open letter to Paul Nuttall has elicited four replies; one from the gentlemen in question (which just said that he disagreed with me) and three letters in the last issue of your newspaper.

Mr Taylor seems to think that the very close vote of a referendum, in which large numbers of the electorate did not vote, is graven in letters of stone for all eternity.

On that basis, one might shut down Parliament after a general election, since no opposition is needed beyond the results being announced.

Mr Kay has a very peculiar notion that opponents of Brexit suffer from Stockholm Syndrome, an assertion that tells me more about his mind-set than anything else.

The EU has many faults, but it is a democratic organisation, and exercises no tyranny.

The commission implements policies devised by the Council of Ministers, all of whom are elected representatives of their national governments.

Yes, there is majority voting, but major decisions can be vetoed by member governments.

Of course, the commission is also subject to scrutiny by the European Parliament.

I too can invent imaginary psychological conditions; he may be suffering from Maixpressun, a condition brought about by actually believing the content of certain newspapers.

I am only too willing to give my views on the effect of dubious austerity programmes on the NHS, but I can't think what they would have to do with continuing EU membership.

Lastly, the third correspondent (whose name I do not know) makes, to my mind, only one useful point; the Euro and the one-size-fits-all debate.

The EU is unusual, in that it has developed a common currency without a polity.

This means that, although there is a central bank, there is no common fiscal policy, no central financial institutions, and no common taxation policy.

I believe these will eventually evolve and iron out the stresses and strains between different national economies.

The ultimate aim of the EU is to create a truly integrated European economy.

Closer integration will oversee fiscal transfers that will safeguard education and social institutions in weaker members.

I would be very sad if Europe will evolve further without the contribution of my own country.

Dr Barry Worthington

Riverbank Gardens

Tottington Road

Bury