IT WAS no surprise to me that our member of parliament has joined the ranks of those who choose to insult members of UKIP.

His description of us as extremists is totally unfair and inaccurate.

He would do well to remember that his statement is also a slight on more than 7,000 local people who voted UKIP in the recent elections.

Until two years ago, I was a member of his Conservative party and had been so all my life.

After a series of evasions and broken promises by the present coalition there are now no differences between the three major players.

Like so many others, I was misled into joining Europe as an opportunity to trade as partners and in doing so betrayed our Commonwealth whose people have fought and died for us.

With our borders open to all and sundry, the country that I love is becoming unrecognisable.

We are governed from a Europe led by unelected foreigners and regulations which defy common sense.

To be described by my member of parliament as extremist is a personal insult.

I have faithfully served for more than 13 years as a district councillor here and in Sussex and I invite Mr Clifton Browne to issue an apology to me and other members of UKIP.

RICHARD DICKINSON

Stratton, Cirencester