Letter: European? Not us

Sir: Paolo Grossi (letter, 17 June) has it just about right: the British aren't, and never will be, true "Europeans" in the sense that people on the Continent are.

We have far too much in common with the world outside. From Birmingham Balti to Ragga to Hanif Kureishi and Salman Rushdie, the broader world - and particularly India, Pakistan and the West Indies (not to mention America and the Anglo-Saxon world) - is in our blood, in our national cuisine, and in our music, our culture and literature.

Who could tell you what the national dish of Portugal is, or name a famous Belgian? Who has relatives in Finland? Who reads Dutch literature? Who listens to Greek dance music? And who in this country really and truly wants to sign up for a United States of Europe? Not me.

WARWICK CAIRNS

Windsor,

Berkshire