It’s not yet official, but everyone is couning on a big “yes” from Ireland – to the tune of about 64% says The Guardian. I say in my News of the World column tomorrow that this is far from a disaster for the Conservatives. It works well for them, in fact: it isn’t nerds who want a UK referendum but any fair-minded person who has just witnessed the way Brussels bullies, bribes and cajoles to get its way. Tony Blair was the one who reneged on his promise of a rederendum – something which, in my opinion, should be a criminal act (but, as Stuart Wheeler tested, is not technically breach of contract). And who is to be EU President? Blair himself.
It will be dawning on Cameron, fairly soon, why Europe is important. He fought a Prime Minister Brown only to deal with a President Blair? The whole shebang is an outrage, the Conservatives can be outraged and with only a third of Britain saying EU membership is “a good thing” the outrage will be shared in the nation.
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