THE last time the British public was given a vote regarding Europe was whether or not we should join the EEC and that was a long time ago.

The EU Referendum Bill was recently passed easily in the House of Commons and is currently being debated in the House of Lords.

And what are a few of these unelected peers of the realm doing? So far 40 amendments have been tabled by one peer – Lord Foulkes who was Scotland Minister under Tony Blair.

Because it is a Private Member's Bill it can only be debated on Fridays and must by passed by February 28.

He wants to hold a petition of a million voters before a referendum can be held, posing the questions in Cornish, (not Vorist), Gaelic and Doric (a Scottish dialect), as well as giving a vote to 16-year-olds, prisoners and EU citizens.

His final lunge with his claymore is to give Alex Salmond the veto. It is obviously his intention to filibuster the Bill (what is Gaelic or Brussels lingo for filibuster?).

The second chamber really does need a radical overhaul although I personally would not favour an elected second chamber.

Whatever happens we must escape the United States of Europe.

– Malcolm Charnock, Lydney.