Watching William Hague debating the Lisbon treaty this evening was a reminder of why he is widely seen as the finest orator in the House of Commons.

Asked by a Labour backbencher about the failure of the Tories to hold a referendum on Maastricht – just as today’s government will not hold a public poll on Lisbon – he was not phased. "The difference between then and now is that," he began. Read more

Sometimes consumer outrage is muted simply because no one can get their heads around a complex issue. Take energy prices and the EU’s emissions trading scheme.

Ofgem, the energy watchdog, popped up last week to suggest that we are being overcharged to the tune of £9bn because of a glitch in the scheme.  Read more