IT could be a damp squib, although equally it might just be a political earthquake. There’s no knowing.

A large number of voters claim they won’t exercise their democratic right in the elections to the European Parliament next month. Campaigning has started.

The constituency is huge, most of the candidates are unknown to the vast majority of the electorate and some of the workings of the EP are unedifying (not least the expenses gravy train).

The more we see of this institution, the more unappetising it looks. Still, decisions are made by those who turn up. Or so they say.