Britain balks at EU defence plan

"There is a semi-detachment which even some senior British diplomats are concerned about," said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform. "The DNA of the old-school British diplomat said that you have to be in the room when the decision is taken to shape the debate. But the Tory leadership doesn't seem to worry about that. … The chorus of euro-scepticism in the Tory party in Britain is definitely getting louder and more demanding … That may not affect discussions at cabinet, but the view of ordinary members of Parliament must, inevitably, affect some of the ministerial thinking."