More on that budget

The Financial Times – which seems to have its ear to the ground – is telling us that an "eleventh-hour deal" is within reach.

Blair is reported to be preparing a final draft European Union budget which is expected to include an offer by Britain to increase its contributions out of the rebate from the €8 billion on offer to €11 billion.

In exchange, our revered leader is insisting L'Escroc accept a review of the EU budget in 2009, although this is widely slated as a figleaf – the review will not commit any member state to accept any changes.

What will be interesting is how Blair dresses this up for his domestic audience.

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