SO Ewen Simpson went to continental Europe about 67 years ago and can thus reassure us that the continentals don’t regard the UK as ‘peripheral’.

With that level of experience that’s just the sort of assurance we need to make us rest easy in our beds.

He finishes by trying to tell us that HS2 wasn’t EU initiated by using weasel words to imply that it is a UK industry initiative.

The group High Speed Rail Industry Leaders is a fine name.

Whereas it may well have some company members now, many of which appear to be from across the EU spectrum, it is essentially a government sponsored think tank.

This organisation co-opts company members on a consultation basis.

And we all know what ‘consultation’ means when undertaken by government organisations.

Perhaps I can quote the group objective which is “to carry out the research and planning needed to ensure that the wider network of opportunities created by government’s commitment to high speed rail are identified and become part of government policy.”

And who do you think pulls the strings on our government policy?

Well, the EU of course.

Don Micklewright