There is some good news on the pressures that may drive Gordon Brown down the road towards a referendum on the new European "constitution", symbols to be added later. The Republic of Ireland already intends to hold a referendum and there is pressure from the Netherlands to follow this example.
There was bad news yesterday for Mr Brown when the leader of the parliamentary Dutch Labour Party, the second biggest party in the government coalition, came out in favour of a referendum.
Jacques Tichelaar, a supporter of the new treaty, suggested that as the deal was so good, a vote should not be feared. "You shouldn't be afraid to put this to the people. I don't see a single argument for not holding a referendum," he said.
If Labour MPs in the Dutch parliament back a referendum then it will be difficult for Jan Peter Balkenende, the prime minister, to resist.
More problematic for the deal that was agreed by Tony Blair at the European Council is the demand that Poland receive more concessions on the amending treaty. Their concerns over the double majority voting treaty is now dealt with by asking for the powers from two member states to delay measures by two years, a moderate measure that could increase accountability and strengthen national interest. Watch the Europhiles shriek and dance like ants frying under a microscope. Their predictable Pavlovian behaviour will be scrutinised in future years for the turning point where Europe moved from liberal democracy to this form of authoritarian oligarchy.
The European Commission responded furiously. “This was clearly settled at the European Council last week,” a spokesman said. “A mandate is a mandate and a deal is a deal. Now it is time for IGC to finish its job.”
This is the language that reveals the real Europe: deals done by elites that are binding, without ratification by Parliaments or people. No deal is done until legally agreed by the Parliaments of the Member States, the last time that this will take place. If this is passed, the Commission will only have to deal with the European Council and the European Parliament for treaty amendments.
How galling that their deal is beginning to unravel.