THERE may be only one winner in the Tory civil war over Britain's relations with Europe - Labour leader Tony Blair.
Although Prime Minister John Major may have struck a deal on British beef exports at the European Union's Florence summit this weekend, he has proved to be the prisoner of the Euro-sceptics within his own party - and none more so than former prime minister Lady Thatcher.
Mr Major had no choice but to strike a bargain in Florence if he was to have any freedom of movement.
The beef crisis had proved a focal point for all the seething anger of the Euro-sceptics - many of whom want a complete withdrawal from the union.
He could mock right-wing backbenchers with their more extreme views. But what really hurt were the actions of Lady Thatcher in providing funds for the deeply Euro-sceptic European Foundation. Mr Major had thought he no longer needed to look over his shoulder at the stern visage of his predecessor, watching, noting, nit-picking, or so it seemed, his every move.
But her dramatic intervention was seen as an almighty rebuff to Mr Major at a time when he is determined to crack down hard on rebels on the Tory backbenches. She was in effect endorsing the presence of a fifth column within his own party.
