Is Cameron Too Quiet on Europe? Blame the Tory Right.

When it comes to covering American politics the foreign press loves nothing more than gawping at the excesses of the right-wing of the conservative movement. Some of this is reasonable, even fair; much of it descends into caricature. Implicit in much of this stuff is the idea that these Americans should be figures of horror and amusement. Meanwhile, it is quietly suggested, we should congratulate ourselves that our politics has little room for such eccentric or even dangerous obsessives. This smugness is unwarranted. Consider the views of Rupert Matthews, the successor to the dreadful Roger Helmer as a member of the European Parliament. He has a thing about Panzers in Britain.

As Bagehot explains, he warns that the EU gives the Germans permission to invade Britain. Or something like that.

A country like Britain is a massive contributor in financial terms to the European Union. Having Britain as a member state means the European Union carries a lot more kudos and a lot more authority on the international stage.