How’s this for a conspiracy theory? Monday’s meeting of over 120 Eurosceptic Tory MPs has certainly got chins wagging and it’s still getting column inches this morning, two days later. It’s an sizeable junk of the parliamentary party and tough for the Dave to punish given that it consists of the majority of his new intake. The operation is being fronted by George Eustice, which provides the perfect media hook of “Dave’s former Press Secretary” and also the fact that he is a former UKIP candidate is music to the ears of the Tory right. It’s also where alarm bells are going off with more than one MP…

The theory goes that Eustice wouldn’t do anything without at least a discreet nod from the top, and how much the grouping is endorsed is the topic of much debate. The “Dave hates Europe really” argument is long dead – actions speak louder than words, but a fair few of the more senior sceptics are highly suspicious that this group has been put together to stop other more aggressive and louder blocs being formed. By maintaining an element of control over this new, large, awkward squad, the Prime Minister can ultimately ignore it. The meeting was raised in Cabinet yesterday, so we shall see…