Is there any connection between Europol's coming database of "troublemakers" and the Home Secretary's identity card scheme?

Both will use iris scans and fingerprints, after all, and it is hypocritical of Mr Blunkett to claim the cards will be used to keep illegal immigrants out when he recently told immigration staff to let them in.

In fact, last year the Government agreed to the EU's call for 20 million migrant workers by the year 2020 - no doubt to lower average wage rates - and never mind the social chapter.

Could it rather be the intention for demonstrators, trades union activists, UK Independence Party members and other "troublemakers" to come under the electronic scrutiny of an unaccountable, diplomatically-immune police force?

The Prime Minister has accepted this charter which gives our modern Gestapo the right to monitor political nuisances and even to extinguish their charter-assured right to life.

We might have thought in 1973 that we were just joining a tariff-free trading area but we didn't realise it was of the Adolf Hitler variety. Better now, surely, to take up Neil Kinnock's offer of a free trade agreement if we ever leave the EU - before it's too late.

-Ian Hills, Brighton