Sir – I would like to draw your readers’ attention to the European elections coming up on June 4. Whilst we may think of the European Parliament as bit distant from our day-to-day lives, it makes decisions which affect all of us and which directly affect our laws here in the UK.

The EU’s decisions affect everything from our working hours to our use of mobiles whilst abroad and the support and help (or otherwise!) given to the poorest countries in the world.

I’d therefore like to encourage other readers to vote so that this important body truly represents us as UK residents.

Secondly, I’d like to draw attention to an event which will give us the chance to put questions to our wannabe representatives: There is a public meeting on Thursday, May 21, that MEP candidates from all parties in the South East region will be attending which gives residents in the South East a chance to quiz candidates on their views on issues of international poverty and trade. This event is in Reading and there’s a free bus from Oxford.

More information is available from http://oxfordwdm.blogspot.com or 01865 236088.

Sam Partington, Oxford