“Now is the chance to build that coalition for reform. It may not be easy, and it may take a while – beyond 2016, I am sure”, says Boris this morning. After telling the Telegraph he was against an early referendum, the Mayor dodged the question on whether he would resign when asked by Sky earlier:

“You’ve got to be able to walk away. Now the PM is going to be successful in the negotiations but if he doesn’t get the deal he wants he’s got to be open to Britain deciding there can be an alternative future.”

Helpful, when the PM is backtracking on last night’s “over-firm” briefing that “If you want to be part of the Government you have to take the view that we are engaged in an exercise of renegotiation to have a referendum and that will lead to a successful outcome.” Which seems to pre-judge the outcome…