LABOUR and the Liberal Democrats were, naturally, out to score points against Tory leader William Hague over the resignation of two of his MEPs to set up a rival pro-European party - even if these are political minnows already dropped as party candidates for the Euro-elections in June because of their well-known dissent for the Conservative line on Europe.

But is it not yet another measure of the problems Mr Hague has in trying to keep the already downtrodden Tories united over his anti-European policy and hostility to the single currency which he had backed by ballot at the party conference last October?

For, though he cannot pretend that he does not have plenty of other Euro rebels in his party ranks, his chosen lack of flexibility on the issue only encourages this sort of dissent and time and again exposes the damaging divisions he has tried the plaster over with a strict policy towards Europe.

Young William looks like he has boxed himself in.

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