The suggestion that it might want to makes absolutely no sense of any kind.

It can't be done, it shouldn't be attempted, no one wants it, it's probably illegal, immoral, and fattening, and the sky will explode if anyone in Brussels so much as considers the possibility.

Congratulations. You and Colman have made my point for me with rare perfection.

Well played.

Now that that's settled - perhaps we can have a diary about how both of you think the pocket nationalists and the sceptics should be handled?

Or is it only a UK problem and not an issue in Spain, Ireland, and elsewhere in the EU?

But, then, the "few people of quality and influence," at least as I can tell from afar, have been operating under a strategy that attempts to skim the economic benefits of EU membership - for them - while fighting, and with all the Opt-Outs granted by the EU: winning, to limit the economic benefits for the British public as well as the social/political benefits.  I suspect the nationalistic message is intended to achieve the latter.

In a word - yes. That's why it's such a farce.

Chris Cook keeps saying that turkeys don't vote for Christmas. In the UK and elsewhere - they very much do.