All that and yet i still read it as a helluvalot less damaging than a myopic Little Englander party getting their wish and us out of the EU and the very likely huge economic cost of that fatal decision.

You fear Labour yet welcome UKIP within which the cons far outweigh the pros economically. Your heart is ruling your head like quite a few others on this issue it appears. Thankfully, I trust 90% of the voters to be thinking with a bit more clarity on Thursday and with less of an emotive agenda.

With an 'X' Matthew. Yourself?

I'll have a go.

Some of the bullet points you make I approve. In some respects, this mid-lefty public sector worker is pretty right wing. Thus, I like reduced debt and smaller government. However, I would go much further than any of the parties in far more private sector involvement in the health sector. It pains to say this but cradle to grave is simply not sustainable with an ageing population. I also would like to see state pensions means tested [and all the other stuff that goes with it like free prescription, bus passes etc.]. While I would set the test quite high, national INSURANCE is just that - it is something to fall back on if you are not provided elsewhere. It cannot be a right.

However, where UKIP fails me is the central parts of their policy. This country is doing better than other places BECAUSE of immigration. They say that the Eurozone is failing and we are thus experiencing a flood of workers escaping unemployment. Good! That is how a free market works. The type who cross continents to work in a country where they don't speak the language but who nevertheless succeed are the lifeblood of a nation - or more likely it is their children who will sustain us. We need young people in an ageing population. What do you propose to do to adjust the balance - some sort of compulsory reproduction? The points system is all very well, but it removes the healthy competition element. Also, will people want to come to this country given...

The other issue I have is that the EC is indeed corrupt and poorly functioning. However, it is a small price to continue to pay into this (dis)organisation to have a seat at the table that discusses Europe-wide economic issues. It is more essential to have the advantageous trade deal that comes of being part of the group. True, there are wealthy nations that are outside the EC in EFTA that MAY have us on board. Or they may not. Also, UKIP talk in terms of exit and negotiating trade deals with our major trading partners on the continent. Given we will be on the poor side in terms of bargaining power, do you honestly think that we can impose terms favourable to us? Yes, by all means try and do deals with our former colonies. Those countries that are 1000s of miles away will be only to keen to fleece us on terms wholly favourable to THEM. There is a simple reason why the business community is terrified of exiting the EC - the instability and loss of trade advantage will trigger a wholesale economic collapse.

From our tough little economy that somehow manages to opt out of much we don't like and has the luxury of looking on smugly as the Eurozone crumbles while we pick up the crumbs, we will be an irrelevant little fringe nation whose words are ignored and whose key workers are lured onto the continent or to the US.

This country is an island; but it is one whose success is founded on trade and close relations with those it buys from and sells to. Immigrants compete with the indigenous population for jobs, homes and services. UKIP appeals to those who are unable or, more likely, unwilling to compete with them. However, from a macro perspective, immigrants generally enrich the nation and severing ties with our major trading body is a turkey voting for Xmas.