Nick Clegg’s pro-European arguments lack the nuance needed to win over the electorate

At his press conference this morning, Nick Clegg told Jason Groves, ‘Do you really think Washington is going to bother picking up the phone if we can’t even punch above our weight in our own back yard?’

This must be one of the most absurd bits of political hyperbole in recent years. There’s an argument to be had about whether or not Britain would be less influential in Washington if it left the EU. But the idea that the Americans wouldn’t bother to even pick up the phone to a country that’s a permanent member of the UN Security Council is just risible.

One of the real problems for pro-Europeans is that they are so inclined to hyperbole when it comes to the consequences of Britain leaving the EU. This certainty is strikingly at odds with the mood of the electorate. The polls, where staying in after a successful renegotiation is nearly always the most popular option, suggest that the public views the costs and benefit of EU membership as being finely balanced.

So, attempting to tell them that this country would have no influence and no standing in the world if it left the EU just isn’t going to pass the smell test.