Even so, Mr. King's comments are a belated and possibly futile warning that rather than try to reclaim powers that experience has led society to put beyond their reach, politicians should make use of the immense powers that they already possess.

WSJ: Two Ways to Look at Sovereignty Issue

He said Labour had to get beyond damaging controversies over MPs' expenses and the smear scandal surrounding former Downing Street aide Damian McBride to "reclaim the notion that politics is about the battle of ideas".

BBC: Morgan's 'stick with Labour' plea