Unlike Neville Chamberlain...

David Cameron did not return from Europe waving a piece of paper. The only paper that anyone has seen is the seven-page statement of intent issued after the European Council, which made no mention of Britain, let alone a veto.

What is a veto? Is it a disinclination to agree with a course of action or a brake block which prevents further movement? I thought it was the latter. Our valiant PM has simply fed journos a line, letting them think that a disagreement with a proposed course of action is a veto.

I wonder if any of his staff has thought of likening him to the Duke of Wellington (the only other Brit to return from Brussels claiming victory over the French, though he was helped by the Prussians).

When General De Gaulle famously said "Non!" to Harold Macmillan's request to joing the EEC, that was a veto because it prevented any further movement in that direction. Edward Heath had to reapply.

Arguably the Prime Minister has achieved two things, one to his short-term advantage, the other to Britain's future disadvantage.

He has regained ground he was losing to Tory Party Euro-sceptics in the House of Commons - for the time being. Longer term he has placed Britain outside the meeting next year when European Union heads of state come together to discuss amendments to the Lisbon Treaty, outlined in their collective statement of intent.

What good this will do us I cannot conceive, because until the 1972 European Communities Act is repealed on the floor of the House of Commons Britain remains a paying member of the EU, second only to Germany in contributions to the budget.

Better to have been inside the tent doing the business than outside while the others snigger and get on with remaking the rules that we will be obliged to follow.

Tin Tin, I fear, has scored an own goal.