Congratulations

to Messrs Cameron and Hague, and others, for setting up the ECR group in the European Parliament - the European Conservatives and Reformists, with at present 55 MEPs from 9 member countries. (Others are in discussion about joining, so the group could become even more significant.) There was some scepticism, even in this country and the party.

CCHQ has published a comprehensive statement on the various party groups involved, and what they all have in common with the Conservatives. But expect the BBC, the Labour Party, the Guardian and the EU establishment to spend much time and column space in attempting ridicule and exposure of some members of the group, - they are nothing if not consistent.

These critics have a problem- they can't understand people who think in a way different to themselves, who see a need for reform of the project or rowing back from the United States of Europe, so they dismiss the others as somehow sub-human and defective.