BSE have a new line: “Britain is the best connected country in EU negotiations,” they claim, pushing a new report by the Economic and Social Research Council as evidence. Indeed Britain is so “well connected” that we have not once succeeded in blocking an unwanted EU measure in recent years. This is despite trying over seventy times.

So, who is behind the report? It was published as part of ESRC’s “UK in a Changing Europe” project, which is directed by Professor Anand Menon. Who is a “visiting expert” at the European Commission, reporting directly to the President.

What about ESRC themselves? They have just won the contract to lead the EU India Platform for the Social Sciences and Humanities – a 1.5-million euro project funded under European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme. They are literally paid by Brussels.

And what of the report’s author? Simon Hix was previously directly awarded a contract directly by the European Commission. Worth £53,700.

Yet more pro-EU sockpuppets funded by Brussels, then wheeled out by BSE. Guido will be watching out for more…