The Observer blog has been busy tickling European deep throats with the delicate feather of journalistic enquiry in the hope that someone will disgorge some newly digested insight into these pesky budget talks. But so far the peristaltic reflexes of Brussels are proving weak.
We have managed to ascertain that there is more sympathy for Tony Blair's position than is being publicly declared. And that is because TB's position is wholly sensible. By all means renegotiate the British rebate, but only if everything else is on the table for renegotiation. Everyone wants an efficient and equitable budget mechanism, non? It is, if you'll pardon our American a no brainer.
Even Robin admits to backing Blair on this one. (He also has a good summary of the argument so far, plus links.)
Meanwhile, the most eloquent expression in the Observer of this round of budget diplomacy remains Chris Riddell's cartoon on Sunday.
