If David Cameron was watching the Eurovision Song Contest then he must have been hoping that his own Euro negotiations fare better than the hapless British entry.
“Still in Love With You” can hardly be the question he asked his fellow leaders at the weekend summit in Riga, if only for the obvious reason that there was not much love lost in the first place. And the way things are going he will be lucky to perform any better than Electro Velvet.
There may be some connection of course. One theory for the spectacular bad run of home country results in the song contest has been that they are merely a reflection of Britain’s growing unpopularity with other Europeans.
The more Britain has been presented as a europhobic country then the less inclined the other Euro juries are to sing along and let Britannia rule the airwaves.
The alternative theory is just that the recent UK song entries for Eurovision have been rubbish. Whatever the explanation, the chances are that nul points is exactly where the Prime Minister is heading in his own political contest.
Word in Westminster is that Cameron is now clearing the decks for a very rapid referendum. Since the election he has been busy redefining what “renegotiation” means.
There is now no more talk of Treaty amendments. Instead he is aiming for a few, as yet undefined, concessions to save a bit of face and seal a deal.
Cameron seems set on securing a few quick “wins” such as further changes to out of work (but not in work) benefits and then a dash to the country.
No doubt some suitable sham bust-up with our European colleagues could be arranged for this autumn to give the process some box office appeal. This would be followed by a “surprise” negotiated “success” and then the promised referendum itself.
In addition, Cameron seems focused on complete nonsense like replacing the European Convention on Human Rights which has nothing to do with the European Union and which actually does some good.
Meanwhile, he never even mentions replacing the Common Fisheries Policy which is a key failure of the European Union and has never done anyone any good!
There are a number of reasons why the Cameron approach doesn’t merit support, not least of which is that he has still to spell out what on earth he is trying to achieve.
Firstly, the Cameron strategy will run considerable risks for little reward, beyond securing the Prime Minister’s own personal legacy. All the talk in Westminster this week is that Chancellor George Osborne is being groomed to lead the pro-Europe campaign to prepare for his own succession as Prime Minister.
However, such a move would immediately divide the pro-European side. For example, I think it inconceivable that the SNP would join in such a campaign structure with the Tories.
One would think that would be the same for Labour, after their bruising Scottish referendum experience, although in their current shell-shocked state you can never be entirely sure.
To be successful, a pro-European campaign in Scotland should be led by popular non-politicians not unpopular Westminster Tory ones.
Secondly, a rush to the polls in 2016 is being pencilled in for the day of next year’s English local elections and the Scottish Parliament votes. This would be a very bad idea. The Scottish elections are our national poll. They must take place on their own merits and have complete priority.
Thirdly, there is the biggest danger of all from the Prime Minister’s shallow approach to European negotiations. It risks failure. The plan is to line up big business, establishment politicians, the Treasury and Bank of England and tell the rest of the country they have no option but to vote to stay in.
The campaign will be one of exaggeration and fear-mongering. A case of Who Scares Wins.
It could work. But it might not.
Instead of the Cameron gamble, Scotland needs an approach which will stress the positive reasons for being part of the European ideal. Let us focus on the big things where Europe is doing too little rather than whining about the smaller things where it is doing too much.
We want a Europe which is able to act on humanitarian crises like the unfolding tragedy of the boat people in the Mediterranean.
We want a Europe which promotes the living wage and social justice, not impedes it through competition laws.
We want a Europe which acts together on climate change not stands back and lets anything rip.
That amounts to a real manifesto for Scotland in Europe.
Cameron proposed a Euro referendum to paper over the cracks in the Conservative party. Now that he has got one he seems unsure what to do with it.
In the song contest Britain is out of tune with Europe. In politics it is the Prime Minister who lacks a Eurovision.