More pro-EU sentiments from Tories

Hot on the heels of last week's conversion amongst the Tory MEPs to pro-European realism, with Roger Helmer calling for tighter regulation of EU animal welfare legislation to protect horses and Christopher Beazley saying that Cameron would take UK into the euro, previously arch-Eurosceptic Martin Callanan has a letter in his local paper praising EU state aid rules and adding that they "are essential to ensure a competitive business environment across Europe". He was at it again in yesterday’s Newcastle Evening Chronicle, demanding extra resources through the CAP (of all things) to help deal with the decline in bee numbers.

State aid rules avoid countries having to compete with each other in a bidding war, which would mean taxpayers paying over the odds. They are just part of the common rules than govern our common market.

How stringent these rules are in protecting consumers, workers or the environment are up to elected MEPs and ministers in the Council, with the Conservatives tending to support light-touch regulation and Labour MEPs calling for more strict rules and protection for consumers and workers.

It may have taken a while but at least a few Tory MEPs are coming to their senses but they will have to do battle with many of their colleagues who believe that Britain should leave the EU. Seemingly, as ever with the Tories, those that want in and those that want out have a long way to go to reconcile their differences.