The first day of the faux debate over the EU treaty has provided an indication of Gordon Brown’s clear intent to turn a crucial debate over the course of the country into a party political nit-picking session.

If anyone can be pleased by the spate of sporting events (ultimately disappointments) endured in recent days, it is surely the Prime Minister since the anti-climatic football, rugby and motor-racing results diverted attention away from the alternative sport of sovereignty surrendering. After the alarmingly rapid Lisbon stitch-up at the end of last week even the most dedicated objector will wonder if it is worth any further effort pursuing the cause. It appears to be stuck in an awkwardly uncomfortable place somewhere among “too dull,” “too difficult” and “too done and dusted”.

Both would-be leaders of the Liberal Democrats have decided, not unsurprisingly, given they were MEPs, to abrogate any responsibility for serious scrutiny of the document. Even the Conservatives seem to be doing little more than expressing game opposition and thus risking being successfully steamrollered into resigned submission. The Tories must not, and need not, worry about the internal implications of whole-hearted engagement. For one thing it would be to play directly into prime ministerial hands. Mr Brown appears to have concluded that Mr Cameron and his cohort will shy away from full-blooded political confrontation for fear of reopening old wounds within Conservative ranks. But Europe is not some sort of political elephant trap, waiting to consume Tories. It is a foundation on which the Opposition can show itself to be competent, fair-minded and electable.

The Tories can reasonably support administrative changes to cope with an expanded EU without backing an expansion of EU responsibilities and power. That is the key distinction that must be rammed home routinely and relentlessly. Anything more must require a referendum and therefore a referendum is required. But they must go further. By championing pan-European free trade, Tories can show themselves to be true supporters of EU partnership and anything but xenophobic isolationists.

Peace in Europe, and harmony between its nations, will be enhanced by encouraging the development of robust commercial relationships. Political, social and judicial integration of the sort envisaged by the treaty is more likely to stifle growth and limit individual, national and regional opportunity.

The Prime Minister’s approach to the EU treaty mirrors the similarly cold and calculating way that he and his Chancellor have formulated tax policy. Well-placed Tory instincts are to admire the smaller State and lighter tax burdens but these have been neutered by the assumption, simplistically advanced by Labour, that higher spending means better public services. Just as the Government is wrong about tax, it is also wrong about this treaty. The Tories must ensure that the country appreciates this fact and the Government pays the highest price at the polling stations.

The Tories must not allow themselves to be characterised as narrow-minded or allow jingois-tic nationalists to hijack public dislike of the treaty. They must be reasonable while also being reasonably angry about Europe. If they are also coherent, they will be doing the right thing for the United Kingdom, the right thing for the European Union and the right thing for themselves.