Lisbon is a city famed for sending forth those wishing to explore the brave unknown - and returning with untold riches. Now an EU Treaty signed in its environs promises the same or so say its supporters. The Czech constitutional court has cleared the last legal hurdle to its ratification and even the septic EU-sceptic Czech president has grudgingly said he will sign it, now that he has secured his opt-out and a promise that he won't be shunned at the canapes table by other EU leaders. This puts the Tories in a priceless pickle as the leadership is challenged by the Europe-sceptics that form the core of the party. David Cameron is to renege on his commitment to hold a referendum on the Treaty. Even those who loathe the EU, yet loyal to head office, are squirming about how to square the circle. How they barracked the government when they carped about the Treaty being identical to the failed European Constitution, which Labour did promise a refrendum on. Now the Conservatives are engaging in exactly the same sophistry that they once accused the government of, mumbling that once ratification is complete it will no longer be a Treaty but EU law. Blah di blah. The Nice Treaty in 2000 is part of EU law but it is still a Treaty. The Treaty of Rome created the European Economic Community but it is still a Treaty. The Conservatives can still hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (though how many of this country's electorate have read - or will read - the tenets is a moot point), it will just be rather pointless and poison relations further with the other members of the EU club - which is probably what the Europe-sceptics want anyway. But Cameron is not going down that route and now we can get on with all our lives and have a Finnish person appointed as President of the European Council.