Cameron gave one firm promise during his leadership campaign – that he would lead the Tories out of the EPP by Christmas 2006. That turned into 2009. At the time Guido thought it a telling breach of promise, in retrospect it looks like clever politics.

A largely united eurosceptic Tory party is going to finally make the break with the federalist EPP and take other like-minded parties with it into a euro-conservative grouping. This will enthuse the rank and file, make good Dave’s promise and undermine UKIP and Libertas, all in good time to make an impact on the June Euro elections. Labour will be looking to highlight splits – unless Clarke breaks his word they are unlikely to find any of significance.

So long as the Tories have the company of other governing parties from across Europe they will have succeeded.