What annoys me about this is that unreferenced European leaders. The journalist lets it be understood that all of Europe's leaders were rooting for Merkel and now believe Germany is in trouble because no fresh start is in view.

Yet the only leaders mentioned in the piece are Barroso, Blair, and Sarkozy. No difficulty in believing they were for Merkel. No one else's opinion seems to matter.

This is just more conventional wisdom from a know-all British journalist (Nicholas Watt). Doesn't matter which newspaper, they all look at Europe through the same kaleidoscope in which the bits always form the same pattern: Brits and the free market know best.