OVER the years we have sadly become accustomed to Richard Drax and his colleagues in the European Research Group fulminating against the European Union and all its works.

I recall that in the run-up to the referendum in 2016 he even claimed that the future of our dear royal Family would be at risk if we stayed in the EU!

We now learn (from the Guardian of 28 January, using officially recorded data) that among peers and MPs in receipt of EU farming subsidies in 2017, Richard Drax was second only to the Duke of Norfolk in receiving no less than £411,000 in CAP payments. The Guardian article concludes “Drax did not comment.”

What are the words I’m looking for to describe Drax’s attitude and conduct - hypocrisy? double standards? I think he owes us an explanation!

Andrew Lance

West Lulworth