IT WAS sad to see so many people in Britain clinging to the hope that a lone right-wing politician in a small eastern European country would block a treaty that was signed two years ago by the democratically elected heads of every European Union state.

The Lisbon Treaty may not be a beautiful document, as critics have been ready to point out, but its effect will benefit us all.

It lays to rest the bogus spectre of the European superstate. There never was such a superstate, nor could there ever be.

More important, it contains long overdue provisions to update and simplify the machinery of a Europe which has grown from six members to 27.

It increases the powers of national parliaments and the European Parliament to scrutinise and modify legislation, and introduces the idea of a "citizens' petition".

The very critics who complain that the EU interferes too much in our daily lives also complain that on the world stage Europe is too weak.

The new President of the Council – not "President of Europe", as some have absurdly suggested – will give Europe a united voice when authorised to do so by heads of government, including our own.

The High Representative for Foreign Relations – not Foreign Minister, as there is no European Government – will help to implement foreign policy decisions taken in the Council.

The EU will now be more strongly placed to advance the interests of Europeans in a world where power counts. In the battles against climate change, globalisation, international crime and terrorism we need an EU that will stand up for our interests, and Lisbon is a step in the right direction.

Malcolm Bower

Tamar Branch of the European Movement Gunnislake

Useless spare parts

WHY can we no longer buy elements for toasters? Why can't we buy elements for kettles? Headlamp bulbs, electrical plugs, power tool bushes?

Why have we allowed manufacturers to mollycoddle us out of these little DIY jobs and con us into throwing away otherwise perfectly serviceable appliances?

It all seemed to be over so quickly. Done and dusted. Was it really out of fear of liability and court action – that infectious disease that has crossed the Pond?

I have a garage full of no longer useable bits and pieces that I still feel reluctant to part with.

Maybe when there's a worldwide plague or war or famine, I'll dust them off. No, of course I'll no longer be here.

Derek Courtnell

Plymouth

Whose Navy is it?

DID you notice that a naval vessel in the Indian Ocean was said to be an European Union vessel? If this is so, what was it doing in the Indian Ocean?

The person interviewed about the possible sighting of a yacht thought to have been captured by pirates looked and sounded very British, and I suspect that this naval vessel is in fact part of the Royal Navy.

I did not know the states forming the so-called EU had a "navy". If the vessel if British, is the EU paying appropriate hire charges for its use? It seems we have handed over government of the country to the EU, meaning that our defence forces are virtually out of control – but ministers will never admit this.

The next thing, already hinted at by Lord Mandelson, will be our currency, which would lead to another hike in inflation. It has been said often that EU membership means weekly household bills being £30 more than they would be otherwise, due to internal EU taxes.

It is not too late to regain our democratic rights and get out of the quasi-communist EU.

R Alder

Fife

Mindless vandalism

THE people of Bere Alston must have been in a state of shock on waking up last week to find all their vehicles damaged. The mindless toerags who caused all that damage ought, if caught, to be hung, drawn and quartered.

Of course, we mustn't do that to the little lambs – human rights will click in. They should at least, though, be sent to a boot camp run on the lines of 1950s-style National Service.

Oh, I forgot, they mustn't be shouted at too loudly for fear of stressing them out. What a shame. My age group had to go through it, and we hadn't done anything wrong – it was the norm at age 18 in those days.

Barry Thomas

Redruth

Careless God

THE Rev Colin Salter asks (letter, November 3) what will we say as God points out that we carelessly allowed millions of our fellow humans, whom he created, to starve?"

My reply to God would be: "You're not a very good parent, standing by and doing nothing as millions of your children died of starvation". I would also say: "Why do you stand by and do nothing as countless babies and children worldwide are brutally abused on a daily basis"?

Neil Kernick

Kingsteignton