Dr Lee Rotherham

The grimoire of history is replete with great topics of thunderous debate: the taxation of the American colonies; the death warrant for Charles I; the maelstrom in the Roman Senate after the death of Caesar.

This most certainly did not qualify even as a footnote.

"...the Convention on the Future of Europe were filled with delegates annoyed at having to be in Brussels on a Monday. They preferred a Friday."

Hours of the last meeting of the Convention on the Future of Europe were filled with delegates annoyed at having to be in Brussels on a Monday. They preferred a Friday.

Perhaps too many hours were filled. Perhaps, cynically, not enough.

Some delegates from far-off corners of the European Empire were irked that they were being drawn from their national parliaments, which were debating matters of interest and importance to them.

Others were miffed that to travel to this distant capital-in-the-making they were required to come over on the Sunday and actually stay over in Brussels. This complaint is understandable, though at least the museums are open over the weekend.

Some – notably the Greeks - pointed out that with Sabena and other airlines going bust, flight timetables made Brussels even less accessible to them.

But wait for it … are these the same delegates who would later be calling for more integration?

Who want to give more powers to a distant, alien, capital?

Who want to proffer at the altar of Integration powers to shackle industries with red tape, while further propping up decrepit businesses so as to stifle competition and choice?

Nothing so clearly marks out the prime requirement to be a starry-eyed federalist. Clearly, some people never learn from experience…