If Dave’s commitment to fight the Lisbon treaty as outlined on Marr is true, UKIP should shut up shop and return to the fold. The problem is Dave has broken his only firm promise made during his leadership election. He promised to take the Tories out of the federalist EPP grouping and form an international grouping which respected national interests “by Christmas” “in weeks not months”. Nothing achieved years later…

Guido cynically wonders if this issue might be like fox hunting was for Blair. Blair didn’t really care about it, but the rank and file really, really did. Every now and then when the grassroots got restless he’d find time for a fox hunting debate. Dave can cheer up the Tory grassroots by talking tough on Brussels…