I see that Amanda Platell's diary in the Daily Mail last Saturday revives the old Tory tactic of massive criticism of Neil Kinnock - not of his views, but pure personal abuse. She calls him dishonest, without any attempt to back up the accusation with facts, and "one of the rudest men in politics". (The original piece isn't online, but it's selectively quoted here.)

As ever, a bit of innuendo about Europe is thrown in: "For years, his entire family has gorged on the EU gravy train."

Eh? Neil's salary as a Commissioner was comparable to that of a minister, and Glenys's, as an elected MEP, is identical to that of an MP, with broadly the same expenses. Yet one never hears the Mail or other Eurosceptic newspapers refer to anyone "gorged on the Westminster gravy train"!

Maybe politicians' salaries are too high, maybe not. But to attack just the European salaries is rank hypocrisy.