“Il est vraiment regrettable, en effet, si l’on croit que la Grande-Bretagne doit occuper une place centrale dans la conduite de l’Europe, ce dont je suis intimement persuad�, que la question ait �t� pr�sent�e sous un jour aussi faux dans mon pays ces derni�res ann�es. Il est impossible de raisonner intelligemment quand le d�bat porte non pas sur les m�rites de la Constitution envisag�e, mais sur le fait de savoir s’il y a lieu de consulter le peuple � son sujet. C’est pourquoi j’ai jug� que le moment �tait venu de mettre cartes sur table – d’obliger les eurosceptiques et les proeurop�ens � faire valoir leurs vues, et de demander au peuple de trancher.”

I’d forgotten to mention anything about Blair’s article in Le Monde on Wednesday. “It is impossible to reason intelligently when the debate is conducted not on the merits of the proposed Constitution, but on whether or not we should consult the people on the subject.”

Considering the results of the You Gov poll released today (admittedly a not especially reliable polling organisation, if one believes Private Eye as I do) that 51% of the population would vote not to the proposed Constitution and about 75% (can’t remember the precise figure off-hand) admit to not having any idea what it’s all about, “the people” cannot be trusted to make an informed choice.

We need an enlightened despot to make these decisions for us. Unfortunately, we’ve got Tony Blair. Poor chap. He tries his best…