"The European Union is administered by unelected, undemocratic and unaccountable bureaucrats in Brussels, Strasbourg and Frankfurt."

Why do we make that claim?

First, they are unelected because although the European 'parliament' consists of elected MEPs, they have no power. The real power behind the E.U. lies with the commission. The commission consists of 25 appointed members, one from each member state. These are usually politicians who have been rejected by their native electorates. The current British Commissioner is Peter Mandelson, famous for being sacked from the British cabinet not once but twice for serious misconduct. Previous British commissioners include Neil Kinnock, twice rejected in British general elections and Chris Patton, also rejected at a general election. He was given the governorship of Hong Kong, then when the Chinese reclaimed the former British territory he found a place on the European commission. Also a former Commissioner was Leon Brittan who resigned from the British cabinet in 1986 over the Westland Helicopters affair.

The Commission issues the regulations and directives which are approved, by way of voting, by the 'parliament'. These regulations and directives are deliberately made so complicated and extensive that most MEPs don't fully understand them let alone have sufficient time to study them in detail. Voting in the European 'parliament' takes place on three days every month. Sessions last an hour and MEPs may be expected to approve up to 200 regulations and directives. The word approve is used deliberately because few, if any, votes go against the commission. Time is limited in order to stifle debate.

Regulations are passed to member states' governments and become law without debate, vote or opposition. They must be implemented as described.  Directives also become law, but member states can implement them as they deem appropriate.

Second, they are undemocratic because the constitution of the E.U. is very different to our British system of government for several reasons. Ignoring the 'parliament' which we have said has no power, we can show how the two systems of government differ fundamentally.

Our government 'borrow' the power from the people. At the end of their term in office the power is given back to the people who decide if the incumbent government deserve to retain it or pass it to another group of politicians. Over the years our governments have ceded so much to the E.U that they are giving less and less power back to the people at election time. These powers are not theirs to give away.

Every British government has an official opposition, effective to varying degrees, but opposition none the less. The E.U. has no opposition. Its policies can be pushed through without this vital safety valve.

The programme of legislation is laid out every year in the Queen's speech. The E.U. make no prior announcement as to the policies that they will pursue.

The British electorate have a number of different parties to vote for, with widely varying policies. Each party issues an official manifesto so that the electorate can make an informed choice. The E.U. has just one policy - federalism.

British parliamentary business is conducted in open debates and accurate records are taken which are made public. Most E.U. business is conducted in private. Records are kept secret.

The British electorate can vote in and out 100% of its government. We can remove only 10% of the European 'parliament'.

Third, they are unaccountable because we cannot vote them out of office. They are unanswerable to the people and they enjoy lifetime immunity from prosecution.

In conclusion, the E.U. has little if any democratic legitimacy. E.U. regulations and directives now affect virtually every aspect of our everyday lives. The situation can only get worse unless we act now.