“This effectively means the end of David Cameron’s promise to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution… it is now clear that Mr Cameron does not have the will to carry the necessary legislation … if the Conservative Party were elected to office. Mr Clarke and his supporters within the Conservative Party have been given carte blanch to oppose the policy. The so-called ‘big beast’ has trampled all over Mr Cameron as the price of his return to the Conservative front bench.”

The press release is a bit of a non-sequitur, since it is Clarke who has to change policy, or at least not disavow the settled Tory policy. Guido suspects that Clarke will try to restrain himself until the General Election. In government however…

UPDATE : In his acceptance statement Ken does indeed bend the knee to Dave on Europe: “Some may raise questions about my views on Europe. They are well-known. But I accept that the Party has come to a settled view on European matters, and I will not oppose the direction David will set on European policies in the future.”