Interesting to see the widespread enthusiasm behind the European team in the Ryder Cup, with much waving of the European flag.

It's a good illustration of our multiple identities. There is no contradiction between supporting England in the football World Cup, Britain in the Olympics and Europe in golf (and, come to that, Yorkshire in cricket and a local club in league football) - they are different dimensions, not conflicting loyalties.

For most of us, that is. I was amused - but not surprised - to overhear a conversation between two Tory Eurosceptics where one said he was supporting the American team in the Ryder Cup because he could not bring himself to support the (largely British!) European team!