IT seems that many (but not a majority, I hope), Scots want to "run their own country", while the Conservatives pretend to espouse "localism". Whisper it quietly, but neither can be achieved while we remain in the European Union. And it's about to get even worse.  This November 1, as a result of the 2009 Lisbon Treaty, Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) is to be adopted in the EU on a whole raft of crucially important matters, including criminal law, immigration, defence, social security – it's a VERY long list. Essentially this means that the United Kingdom loses its veto on all these matters, the very essence of statehood.  Hypothetically every single person in this country could desperately want one policy, but we could, and often will, end up being forced to do the opposite by the rest of the EU (and they are not all our "friends" I can assure you). This might well please that old dinosaur Kenneth Clarke, who could not wait for Westminster to become a "glorified county council", but I am sure it is not what many older "Courier" readers wanted when they were "conned" into voting YES in the 1975 referendum on whether to stay in the "Common Market". Go on, Google "QMV November 1" - you will be horrified! Bob Edwards Chairman, UK Independence Party, Central Devon Salmonhutch Crediton