I was delighted to accept an invite from Birmingham University to debate against two Party leaders, (albeit from pseudo parties) UKIP’s Nigel Farage and Veritas’ Patrick Eston, the motion that “This house believes Britain should leave the EU”.

However, Nigel Farage pulled out at the last minute, claiming he couldn’t get there in time from Brussels (although that’s precisely where I came from).

The debate had been widely advertised on Eurosceptic websites such as those of Veritas, Conservative Future but their attempts to pack the audience in their favour did not pay off with an overwhelming majority opposing the motion at the end of the debate (with, I am delighted to say, a swing in our favour if you compare the votes before and after). Many of the students in the audience were well informed about the EU and a thoroughly enjoyable and lively debate was held. Peter Luff, of the European Movement, also spoke on my side.

I was also intrigued to hear the latest Eurosceptic argument that claimed the EU is undemocratic because in the Council of Ministers, one country can halt the will of 26 others by using their veto – not something hitherto from the Eurosceptic side!