Cameron's EU renegotiation speech - the hour draws near!

The prime minister has been spared having to publicly outline his EU renegotiation plans thanks to the "beneficial crisis" of a terrorist attack on a BP plant. But since Algerian special forces dealt with that problem (albeit at cost of innocent British lives) what excuses has he got now for putting off his speech?

"Mr Cameron would give it this week. But tomorrow is President Obama’s inauguration and the Cameroons don’t want to compete with that for coverage. Tuesday is out because, as one Downing Street figure explains, ‘We can’t rain on Merkel and Hollande’s parade’ as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty....The latter part of the week is dominated by the Prime Minister’s Davos address, setting out his agenda for Britain’s chairmanship of the G8. This leaves Wednesday as the most likely time for it. Finding a venue isn’t any easier....the speech is meant to be delivered abroad. Yet in the current weather, the Cameron team is fearful that if they choose a European location, they will have to delay the speech again due to snow."

And as soon as Cameron does summon up the courage to deliver it, Angela Merkel will again tell him that renegotiation of Britain's terms of membership is impossible. As will the Foreign Office. And of course UKIP. Whereupon he will offer us another referendum, like the Lisbon one, in the far distant future.....on what, exactly?