According to the Liberal Democrat website Ming´s speech on Europe represents a break with some traditions.

First (and this isn´t so new) he clearly sees the interests of the UK as lying with Europe.

"Britain should distinguish its own foreign policy from that of the United States. It should rediscover its independence of thought. We should all value our relationship with the United States. But the relationship needs to be rebalanced, redesigned and renewed.

"Today, Britain’s foreign policy lacks credibility and influence. No 10 has found proximity to the White House flattering. But we have allowed ourselves to get too close. We have flown too close to The Sun."

This leads him to advocate a closer relationship with European partners on security issues:

"Europe should take a greater role in promoting its values through its Common Foreign and Security Policy, with the full and active participation of the UK."

But Ming applies some of the Freedom Bill principles to Europe too. In a break with the past he says that

"The EU would better reflect its peoples’ priorities if it stuck to legislating only when necessary.

We need a Powers Audit of the European Union. And that Audit should take place on the basis of a simple principle: only where issues are most effectively addressed by collective action, should the EU act.

It is good to see this move from Ming. We certainly need more from Europe in terms of dealing with a dangerous world, promoting free trade, and taking a common line (and promoting a global response on the environment). But frankly we don´t need a lot of what we have: not the CAP, and probably not a lot of the Structural Funds.

Liberal Democrats should lead the way in calling for a radical reappraisal of priorities in the "fundamental reappraisal¨of EU spending", promised for 2008. Borrowing a phrase, perhaps our approach should be one of "aggressive subsidiarity".