The prime minister will not get a substantive renegotiation of the UK's terms of membership before 2017, so the referendum question will not be about his supposed diplomatic triumph but rather: "Do you want to stay in the present EU, with all its deficiencies and problems?" The referendum will cause grave financial and economic instability and make the UK a laughing stock across the globe.
Should they win next year's election, the Tories are pledged to follow a renegotiation of Britain's membership with an in/out referendum that will supposedly materialise by the end of 2017.
Now, that job is made all the harder if we have years of grinding uncertainty because of an ill-defined, protracted renegotiation of Britain's status within the European Union.
The bill, which will be published on Thursday as the prime minister embarks on a tour of European capitals to begin the process of outlining his renegotiation plans, will confirm that the government has accepted the advice of the Electoral Commission on the referendum question.
The kingdom is also an important player in BAE's immediate post-EADS future because shareholders are hoping to receive the proceeds – an estimated £600m – from the renegotiation of a Saudi contract for 72 Typhoons.
Food matters aside, renegotiation has an important place, but so does the EU and its other member states.
The prime minister also tried to parry the Ukip threat by promising to introduce a UK bill of rights instead of the human rights act that incorporates the European Convention in UK law, and place EU rules on the free movement of labour at the heart of his renegotiation strategy.
"The Treasury, along with the rest of government, is focusing on renegotiation with the EU, to get the best deal for the UK.
The intervention by Mills came as David Cameron prepared to intensify his preparations for his renegotiation of Britain's EU membership terms.
It is now, before his most troublesome backbenchers feel they have the authority to lay down their demands, that Cameron needs to set out his own thoughts on what he wants to achieve from a renegotiation with the EU before a referendum, advisers believe.
And that has been achieved not only by using Ecuador's limited oil wealth to benefit the majority, but by making corporations and the well-off pay their taxes (receipts have almost tripled in six years), raising public investment to 15% of national income, extending public ownership, tough renegotiation of oil contracts and re-regulating the banking system to support development.
