AS the saying goes, a week is an extremely long time in politics, so having to wait five years on a token promise for an EU referendum is ludicrous in the extreme.

Why a vote cannot come quickly and co-incide with the forthcoming May local government elections is anyone's guess?

However, if we take the Prime Minister's word and patiently await the referendum, should our country at the very least be assured that in the interim period the UK doors are closed to immigration, predominantly the unlimited masses of Romanians and Bulgarians forecast to arrive from January 2014.

Our benefits, housing, schools, culture, free car-parks (chance for another plug), jobs and health services must be protected. Maximum pressure must be put on the Government to stop any immigration that is not in our country's interest.

I do believe that our MP, Mark Harper, is, as Immigration Minister, doing his best to address a situations he has been unfortunate to inherit. However, he may do even better if he received an influx of mail from his constituents on the subject.

–Alan Preest, UKIP, Lydney North.