In which we sympathise with a letter in the Telegraph

We find ourselves nodding in agreement at this letter:

Mr Walters said there are some benefits to being a member, but that the level of bureaucracy is a heavy burden on the state. “If we get ourselves out of the bureaucratic nightmare Europe creates, that would be beneficial. And the amount of money spent propping up that bureaucracy. There would be no worries about an exit.”

Because of course "Europe" is a political union with people who do this:

Four French bakers have been found guilty of working too much and hit with fines after sparking national debate over their desire to stay open seven days a week. A court in Dax, south-western France, handed €500 (£368) fines to the four from the town and nearby Saint-Paul-les-Dax saying they had flouted a 1999 prefectural order obliging any bakery to remain closed for at least one day per week.

Note that this is not about giving the staff (nor even the boss) a day off or two. This is an insistence that the actual premises must close for one day a week. Supposedly so:

Jean-Pierre Crouzet, head of the national baker's and confectioner's confederation backed the status quo, saying it encouraged competition by obliging people to buy bread elsewhere at least once a week.

That is, in the view of the French Bakers' union, the French people are too stupid to understand the concept of shopping around. A problem which can only be solved by having one seventh of the country's bread, confectionery and patisseries plant and capital inoperative on any single day.

We really are of the opinion that this is something that the market unaided can solve. And, further, should be left to solve.