I think that as time goes on, we are becoming more sceptical about the European experiment, rather than less. I suggest that this is true not merely of the Conservative Party (and the prospective Parliamentary candidates thereof), but moreover of the country and of our media.
That is my view for a number of reasons, but I'm spurred to write by one recent piece of evidence in particular - I can derive no other conclusion from the fact that a very prominent Conservative MP - the great John Redwood, no less - has had for more than 48 hours the striking and direct accusation
The EU has conspired against the UK in several ways
front and centre on his excellent and much-visited blog, without arousing comment. (He goes on to elucidate the ways in which that conspiring was done, and I urge you to read it).
I'm sure that you, too, can imagine the joyous pillorying that this would once have attracted from the press eager yet again to portray a sensible man as a far-right fringe loonie rather than one willing doggedly to stand up for truth. They don't do that any more. I cannot help but feel that this change is fundamental rather than tidal and temporary, and that even our media class is coming more and more to see Europe for what it is.
So obviously, for the record, I agree with Redwood and with his conclusions (as I do on what I perceive to be his position on tax: in sum, we pay far too much tax in this country). But do you agree that there is a shift in the sceptical direction on the Europe question?
If I'm right, this progress towards scepticism is pleasing. I should think that it is entirely understandable given the ever-growing weight of evidence of the corruption and incompetence sprouting in Brussels. In the end, no matter how much of our own money they splurge on propaganda campaigns telling us that their continued existence is for our own good, more and more people seem willing to say that the Emperor has no clothes.
This week, of course, someone, somewhere has the chance to do something about it. As Tim has said, if the Irish give the "wrong" result they'll no doubt just be asked to vote again - but (and I concede that I am perhaps hopelessly naive and starry-eyed in this) I continue to possess enough faith in human nature to hope that this endless cycle of bullying and ignoring popular will from Europe will ultimately be resisted.
Given the example of the delightfully, um, robust response from many Americans to the Guardian's counterproductive "Operation Clark County" letter writing campaign to Ohioans during the 2004 Presidential elections, I doubt that English urgings to our Irish friends about their forthcoming vote would be less than helpful. Let it merely be said that I hope that they vote no, and that I envy them the chance to vote at all.
