You know, for all that I dislike UKIP, at least they're consistent. When the EU announces something - no matter how worthy the measure may be, and no matter how impossible it would be to implement those measures without EU co-operation - UKIP immediately comes out shouting and screaming about how much they detest it.

The Tories are different, however. The UK has been an EU member for more than 30 years now and the Conservatives still can't decide where their principles lie. Every time you think they're adopting a more sensible position on European co-operation, their extreme tendencies kick in and they're arguing for withdrawal (i.e. an end to all joint EU action). But then, the next thing you know, they're welcoming that same joint action on another issue because it gives them a chance to snap off a cheap shot at the government. Witness:

"Responding to the European Commission's warning to energy companies over price-rigging, Shadow Energy Minister, Charles Hendry said:

"'I welcome the crackdown against anti-competitive practices that the European Commission has announced. The Conservative Party has been speaking out and campaigning on this issue for months so we wonder why it has taken the EU to articulate its concerns for the Government to sit up and take notice.'"