However, David Cameron is hoping that his party still take the opportunity it provides to spend the next few months united around a parliamentary campaign to give the public a say on Europe ratherthan to have a debate amongst themselves about whether to get out or stay in and on what terms.
"The purpose of such a forum would be to stimulate a publicdebate about the need for national standards that promote effective learning, ratherthan those which lead only to hot housing for tests and exams, " said Mr Moore.
And if the changes in many countries remain shallow, the whole floor of publicdebate has clearly shifted to questions of when and how to reform, ratherthan why.