Gordon Brown is the latest fossil to be dragged out of the cupboard to tell us how stupid we would all be to leave the European Union.

He even tried to evoke the “Churchillian spirit” to claim that staying in is the “British” thing to do. It should be remembered though that, after the Second World War Winston Churchill did indeed think a united Europe would be a good thing, essentially to protect it from itself after the ravages of two wars.

He was also adamant that Great Britain should never be part of such a union, stating in a 1948 speech, “We have our own dream and our own task. We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked, but not comprised. We are interested and associated, but not absorbed.”

There have been a lot of scare stories from the likes of Brown, Cameron and other “Remainians” about the problems this country could face should be we be bold enough to leave the EU and stand on our own two feet once again.

I, however, look forward to that day knowing that we will at last, be able reclaim and rebuild the freedom and democracy, signed away by Edward Heath (“It’s just a free trade agreement”) in 1972.

I would like to suggest that, in the future, June 23 should be known as either “Independence Day” or “Capitulation Day” depending on the outcome of the vote.

DAVID HAMMOND

Via email