(Steps delicately around the steaming pile of accumulated recriminations)

Well, IF Mr McGrath's allegation that the budget details were disclosed in advance to the Germans is found to have some truth in it, then I would agree that this is a scandalous breach of protocol. If not, then not. The facts will doubtless emerge in time.

In the UK we are geographically closer to this matter than say the USA, and I do read a certain amount of the financial news, but this is the first report on this theme that I have read.

That the Germans and French might be seeking such information would not be surprising. They are both taking the situation with the Euro very seriously, the Germans in particular having a strong folk-memory of currency-collapse in the 20th century.

Of course a cynic might consider that their latest proposals are a step further towards the unification of Europe that has been the goal of various regimes over the last 2000 years or so. While the idea has a some appeal, I am wary of the way that each gang to promote it also believes that THEY should be in charge.