I AM greatly amused as our mainstream political leaders try to justify the success of the right wing parties following the Euro elections. It appears that they have come to the conclusion that those results are due to protest voting. How very astute of them, perhaps I can assist them as to why the people of this country feel disengaged from the body politic.

VAT at 20 per cent, bank bonuses, bedroom tax, welfare cuts, food banks, foreign aid, zero hours contracts, costly wars, immigration, lack of housing and last but not least, the continual erosion of our state by a collective of faceless career politicians in Brussels. Protest vote! You’re damn right it was.

Malcolm M. Richards Aberthaw Road Newport