I CAN'T recall quite such a depressing start to any August, with every day with less sun than the day before, the constant threat of rain around, and temperatures closer to March than summer.

Talking to farmers they are worried about when they can get the harvest in, such has been the amount of rain around for the last few weeks. 

What looked like being a bumper harvest in ‘flamin’ June’ is now just wishful thinking and there are those who believe that much of the crop has already been ruined.

Whilst we didn’t have quite the catastrophe at Wimbledon this year as the organisers seemed to be able to circumnavigate the worst of the weather interference friends of mine who went complained at how unpredictable the weather was and not pleasant for sitting for long periods.

Of course other parts of Europe have been basking in some of the longest hot spells in history. 

Though it brings its downside with the threat of forest fires and heat exposure, you wonder what the British have done to deserve quite such an unpleasant couple of months weather?

Naturally not everyone is unhappy with our poor weather. 

Sales of umbrellas must have gone through the roof and fashion houses must be thinking that they should start their winter clothes shows early this year as we are already dispensing with our summer garb. 

Maybe things will come right when the schools go back and we can expect an Indian summer – but if the long-range forecast is to be believed there is little chance of that happening.

Some naysayers will argue that this is all a consequence of global warming and climate change. 

Personally the links between our dull summers and climate change I feel remain a mystery. 

This in no way discounts the science behind climate change which is irrefutable. 

However by now you would have thought that our summers would be getting hotter not colder overall.

So maybe the British psyche just has to grow used to disappointments over summer weather forecasts. 

Rather like the athletics where we seem to be forever fourth may be we just have to recognise that being British requires us to go without a summer. 

If this is the case we will have to lump it. 

Personally though I blame the EU!

David Drew

MP for the Stroud Constituency