Friendly federalist
Sir: I am grateful to Sarah Whitebloom (Wet kiss for Al', 1 February) for record- ing my vain request to give the massed Conservative selectors in Kensington and Chelsea the chance of choosing what these constituencies have always had — an MP of a pro-European persuasion. May I make two observations?
My proposal to refer the list was not put to the meeting except inversely. No secon- der was called, though many were available: those present were simply asked whether they wished to proceed with the ballot, which they very largely did — it was what they had come for. The contrary vote was then superfluous, but at least the point had been made.
Second, Ms Whitebloom thinks the episode signalled 'the final defeat of the fed- eralists' in the constituency. I do not think there are many here — or indeed on the Continent — who seek the bureaucratic European superstate that this characteristic misuse of the word federalist implies. It is possible to be Euro-friendly without being manic about it; to have misgivings about being shut out of monetary union without being crazy for it; and to be in favour of the closer union to which we are committed by treaty while being confident — as other member states are — that our national char- acter and control of our own destiny will sur- vive in adequate measure. But I would agree that the Europhobic cause had a good day. Adam Fergusson
15 Warwick Gardens, London W14
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