I am in my 83rd year and a lifelong Socialist. I have voted in every election, local or national, for over 60 years.
I remember our joining the Common Market as it was then called - not that I was asked to vote to join by Ted Heath and the then Tory government - and it was only later that a Labour government under Harold Wilson gave me my first chance to have my say and I voted 'out' as I saw the Common Market as a club for big business. I was at that time an active member of the Amalgamated Engineering Union and a branch secretary and shop steward.
The outcome of that referendum did not please me but I accepted the will of the British people.
As time went by my opinion changed given the way that this body, which had by then changed from the Common Market to the European Union, had made laws giving protection to workers and to the environment and this is why so many Tories want to leave.
My problem now is, should I change my lifelong belief of how important it is to vote when to do so on this occasion would be to take the side of one of the two Bullingham bully boys, David and Boris and their respective gangs having a fight to see which bully should run the country.
As my old mum said to me many years ago, 'David, don't get involved in other families' quarrels. They won't thank you for it'.
Dave Hutchings
Dorstone
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