Letter: Britain's history of resistance to a European social charter for its workers

Sir: The correct answer to a bluff is obviously a double-bluff. If the rebel Tories in the House of Commons propose to vote in favour of the Social Chapter of the Maastricht treaty (which, as such, they detest) in order to prevent the ratification of the treaty by this country, the Government, while maintaining its strong opposition to the Chapter, should say that it would regard any vote by the House in favour of it as a genuine expression of the popular will, to which it would respond by withdrawing the existing 'opt-out'.

No Tory could then do anything but oppose the Labour amendment and the Government would surely win the battle for the treaty.

Yours truly,

GLADWYN

House of Lords

London, SW1