Letter: Major's free vote mystery

Major's free vote mystery

Sir: Mr Major has said Tory backbenchers will have an unwhipped vote on Europe. Unfortunately he has not made clear what it will be about. If the vote in Parliament is on holding a referendum, Eurosceptics may succeed in stopping ordinary voters from deciding on the Eurocurrency. The only other option is on the Government's recommendation to voters in a referendum. If the Government lost that vote they surely would have to resign.

I question Mr Major's assertion that a free vote for his backbenchers can be compared to the ordinary voters' freedom of choice at a referendum. I would be grateful for an explanation.

A J TERRY

Bristol