Guido’s co-conspirator in Brussels emails to remind that the Gravy Train for faction funding by the European Parliament has arrived today. March 31st is the deadline for applications for faction funding and it looks like the Gravy Train will be leaving without the new faction on board.

In Westminster the word is that the Tories are waiting for Czech President Vaclav Klaus’ ODS party to win the Czech general election in June. Hague wants to be able to point to the alliance with a governing party to counter any New Labour spin onslaught that the Tories are aligned with a bunch of oddballs who quaintly believe in national sovereignty, free markets and free trade.

The patience of the Tory right is fraying as they were promised a speedy exit. Like the war, they now hope the federalist nightmare will be over by Christmas.