Calling Nick Clegg’s bluff

An early test of Nick Clegg’s credibility is at hand. Labour’s Ian Davidson has sent a letter to him proposing a solution: a two-question referendum on both the Lisbon Treaty and on EU membership – the “in our out” question which Clegg would have us believe he wants so badly. If the Tories back Davidson’s plan (no reason why they shouldn’t) then a trio of Conservatives, LibDems and Labour rebels could actually deliver the referendum that all three of them promised at election time.

So accepting a vote on the Lisbon Treaty would, surely, be a small price to pay for the in-or-out question which Mr Clegg tells us is such a point of burning principle for the LibDems. Wouldn’t it?