Last week, I attended the reception ("wake") for the winding up of Britain in Europe, the organisation set up to run referendum campaigns on the euro or the constitutional treaty. With neither looking likely for the next few years, Britain in Europe is being effectively wound up for now.

Its disappearance could be a problem. While the anti-Europeans remain vociferous and well-financed, and are actually upping the ante in that many of them are now openly calling for British withdrawal from the Union, there is not much left organisationally or financially in terms of making a pro-European case or even of simple rebuttal capacity against eurosceptics.

Some argue that the European Movement is the obvious place to continue the battle and should be strengthened. Indeed, two members of Britain in Europe staff who have been dealing in press and rebuttal work are joining the European Movement. It is also the only structure that actually exists on a non-party political basis.

Others point out that the European Movement is extremely small. As a membership-based organisation with many ageing members (many having joined during the 1975 referendum campaign) and a cumbersome structure, the need not to offend any party constrains its ability to act forcefully.

There is some talk of a new organisation or unit being set up, but no indication of where its finance would come from, how it would relate to other organisations (including the European Movement), or who would run it. Although these issues have now been discussed for several months, no concrete proposal has yet emerged.

In the meantime, the European Movement is all that there is on an all-party and non-party basis. Let’s hope it can mee the challenge, and help beef it up.