UNUSUALLY, I find myself agreeing with at least some of the points made by Ian Cummings (December 13).

Certainly it is the case that what is sometimes described as “benefit tourism” is less prevalent than is sometimes imagined and Mr Cummings is right to point out that many EU migrants come to Britain fully intending to work for a living.

He is also probably right to suggest that their efforts could be well spent building up the economies of their home countries.

Unfortunately, what he fails to mention is that unemployment is much worse in eastern Europe than it is in Britain. People come here because this is where the work is.

There is a desperate need for more investment in eastern Europe. Assistance to kick-start new businesses in eastern Europe would probably be a much better use of EU funds than the wasteful Common Agricultural Policy.

So I am not blind to the need for change in the EU. Where I differ from eurosceptics is that I do not share their ideological hatred of the EU.

CHRIS ROBINS (Cllr)

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Kidlington