FOR some years, I and many others have suggested that the reductions in numbers of our military personnel and capability owes a great deal to our membership of the European Union and their intentions to build up the Common Defence Policy and, ultimately, create an EU army.

We have been derided by Nick Clegg and others who tell us “our imaginations are getting the better of us”.

Just recently, facts have proved that imagination has nothing to do with it.

Fact one. It now transpires that Article 42 of the EU Common Defence Policy will soon place our entire military capability under the control of Brussels.

Article 42.2 commits the UK to a “progressive forming of a Common Defence Policy" and Article 42.3 commits the UK to “make our armed services available for the common defence and security” of the EU.

Fact two. If that is not clear enough, We find that the Netherlands has already started to merge its army and navy with the German forces and Czech military appears to be following suit.

Fact three. Following joint manoeuvres with French forces on Salisbury Plain last week, Michael Fallon, Conservative defence minister, said that UK Armed Forces must be further integrated with EU forces, indicating that establishment politicos are content to weaken Nato, our traditional defence pact, in order to “dock Britain permanently within the EU”.

It is clear to me that should we mistakenly vote to remain in the EU, we shall see our battle-hardened military, still recognised as the finest, if no longer the biggest in the world, placed under the command of foreign politicians. Our forces take an oath to “Queen and country”, not the EU.

To whom will they be forced to swear allegiance? JC Juncker, or the German chancellor?

I do not want my grandchildren to be conscripted to fight for such a dysfunctional political empire.

The only way is to vote to leave the EU.

TONY WOODCOCK

Dingle Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth

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