Our relationship with the EU

Much huffing and puffing from a few Tory MPs about their brave call for a referendum on EU membership ... or maybe the (impractical) repatriation of a few marginal powers ... at some time a few years off, safely in the future. As if a Tory government could be trusted to keep its promises on the EU. They want to alter the UK's "relationship" with the EU.

Or maybe they're more concerned by their relationship with their constituency associations:

The Indy's Andy Grice quotes a Tory source this morning pointing out that with boundary reviews triggering a raft of reselections, local associations are determined to keep their MPs honest on the issue of a referendum. Anyone who voted against one would be "cutting their own throats", the source said.

As Richard North wittily observed

We can no more have a relationship with the EU than can Tim Montgomerie have a relationship with his left foot – or vice-versa.

Let's put this in political terms. We only have “a relationship with the EU” in the sense that Scotland has “a relationship with" the UK – we’re part of it.

One difference, Tory MPs, is that our Parliament (yes, that’s you, you brave souls) is steadily reducing the extent of our devolved government. That's despite the alleged referendum lock. We didn't spot you standing up defiantly for England.

You have been bending the knee to our central government for years.