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		Britishness Lincolnshire Echo - Thursday 24th November 2005 Dear Sir, There's more to Britishness than warm beer and the thwack of leather on willow. ('Do Rain and tea make us British, Echo 15th Nov). Our very special history as an island nation has created a unique sense of identity, and a unique outlook on the world. We are a great global trading nation, and the world's second largest global investor. We have connections around the world, especially with the English speaking nations which share so much of our culture, as well as other nations like Malaysia and Singapore where I spent much of my career. Of course we want to trade and cooperate with our neighbours in Europe, but their growth prospects are dire, and we will see greater trade growth and prosperity elsewhere. That is why we must never be "at the heart of Europe". We cannot afford to become an off-shore province in a low-growth, self-centred, protectionist Europe, governed from Brussels. Europe is too small for us. We are citizens of the World. Yours faithfully Roger Helmer East Midlands Conservative MEP