1.8i 98 freelander,starts only when I have wired an external lead from the battery to the fuel pump, pulled the cut off switch out of socket and twisted the wires together.By the next morning same problem unless I rewire externally and pull the switch again

What fault am I having,how can I correct the problem.

Relay R103 is the fuel pump control relay, connecting power to the pump via a white/purple wire. The relay coil is driven via S206 the inertia switch on a green/blue lead and grounded by the ECU on a black purple lead. By putting power directly on the pump you are bypassing the relay load contacts. I would check the voltage across the coil and see if the ECU is grounding the pump, more likely the relay itself I would have thought.

thats why your called missing link, thanks for your help, i,ll test as you've said
thanks