On 8 October last, the EU Commission launched a consultation on reduced VAT rates.

At the time, Algirdas Šemeta, Commissioner for Taxation, Customs, Anti-fraud and Audit, said: "It is high time that we take a fresh look at reduced VAT rates. Member States need new revenue sources, while businesses need simpler tax systems with fewer compliance costs. Today we are asking whether certain reduced VAT rates are delivering what they seem to promise, or whether they pose more problems than they are worth".

OK … seems reasonable enough. Even if you think VAT is the devil's spawn – and we do – there doesn't seem to much harm in this, at the moment. But that was before last Saturday, when the Express had a go at it.

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How much longer do we have to be ruled by total morons, who only cause ruin.

That's exactly my view. There is an important debate to be had and all we get from the media is noise.

Indeed, the Express treats EU issues in exactly the same way as the rest of the British media...only with a superficial 'EU out' editorial topping. Where the EU affects significant areas of our country it does exactly what all the other papers do...ignore it.

Google translate does a tolerable job on the piece. If you open it in Google Chrome, it will automatically offer you a translation option.

It's crying wolf ... that works for a time, but eventually, it loses its force. My piece was more complicated because I was debunking the Express story as well as telling the real story. But actually, there isn't a story unless Cameron makes it so ... VAT changes require unanimity ... like I said, crying wolf.