Another quite good speech from Blair on Europe. The problem has never been so much his words or his views on Europe - some of his speeches have been outstanding, even if as today his views are far from perfect - but his willingness actually to do anything about them.

I am persuaded that when he says things about improving Europe - and particularly about going out and making the case for it to the public - he does actually mean it. It’s just when it comes to actually doing anything about it, it never seemed to happen. Days from announcing his departure, he is hardly going to start now. British pro-Europeans feel extremely let down Blair on Europe - much more so that by Major, for example, who didn’t think of himself as a European as Blair does - and it’s entirely his own fault.

The next Prime Minister, by contrast, has made no pretence of saying the right thing about Europe - moving from being a decent pro-European when in opposition, to one of its loudest critics when in office. And despite some speculation, no-one seems to have the faintest idea what his approach will be from Number Ten.