IS the Prime Minister losing his political marbles? Some would say it was highly unwise at the very least — others might say crass — of him to tell MPs to ignore the views of their local party activists in the run-up to the EU referendum.

And I marvel at the moderation of my language.

Does David Cameron not realise that it is these unpaid workers — both Conservative and Labour — who do more than anybody else to get their parties into power and keep them there?

They trudge the streets morning, noon and night — in all weathers throughout the year, not just at election times — knocking on doors and often getting a hostile reception. They spend hours on the phone, licking envelopes and cajoling people to support them — often a thankless task.

They do not do all that to be snubbed, even insulted, by senior politicians.

They are, in fact, far more crucial to the parties they support than any of the Members of Parliament they strive to get elected.

There has already — and not surprisingly — been a backlash. No fewer than 44 local Conservative Party chiefs have written a letter condemning the Prime Minister’s “arrogant” instruction to his MPs.

In the letter they say Mr Cameron has undermined the goodwill that existed among loyal members and crucially warn him: “No Prime Minister has a divine right to rule.”

This is strong — almost menacing — stuff and Mr Cameron would be a fool not to recognise what a stupid mistake he has made.

There are some four years before the next general election and no doubt Mr Cameron will be hoping — even though he will not be fighting it as Prime Minister, and probably not at all — this will be forgotten between now and then.

But these people have long memories, and they do not deserve to be treated like this.

Mr Cameron should apologise at the very least, or the Tories could be paying a high price at future elections — national and local. And he will have only himself to blame.

THE multi-faceted campaign to secure Britain’s exit from the European Union is in a state of shambolic disarray.

There have been ego problems — so what is new? — internal squabbling and general mayhem. Kate Hoey, a prominent Labour MP, has stormed out of one group.

Now, they have Lord (Nigel) Lawson, the former Tory Chancellor, given a key role at the top of the Brexit campaign.

Lord Lawson — as Margaret Thatcher found out to her cost — does not suffer fools gladly, and it is expected that he will bang a few heads together to secure some semblance of order and unity into the campaign.

How politicians get themselves into this kind of mess with people supposed to be of a like mind is hard to grasp.

PHILIP Hammond, the Foreign Secretary, has denounced the UN report into the Julian Assange affair as ridiculous. This must be the understatement of the year.

In fact, that report is a scandalous travesty of the facts. It is about as far from the truth as it is possible to be.The UN should be ashamed to have produced a report without, apparently, checking a single fact.

IS the Prime Minister losing his political marbles? Some would say it was highly unwise at the very least (others might say “crass”) of him to tell MPs to ignore the views of their local party activists in the run-up to the EU referendum.

And I marvel at the moderation of my language.

Does David Cameron not realise that it is these unpaid workers - both Conservative and Labour - who do more than anybody else to get their parties into power and keep them there?

They trudge the streets morning, noon and night - in all weathers throughout the year, not just at election times - knocking on doors and often getting a hostile reception. They spend hours on the phone, licking envelopes and cajoling people to support them - often a thankless task.

They don ‘t do all that to be snubbed, even insulted, by senior politicians.

They are, in fact, far more crucial to the parties they support than any of the Members of Parliament they strive to get elected.

There has already - and not surprisingly - been a backlash. No fewer than 44 local Conservative Party chiefs have written a letter condemning the Prime Minister’s “arrogant” instruction to his MPs.

In the letter they say Cameron has “undermined” the goodwill that existed among loyal members and crucially warn him: “No Prime Minister has a divine right to rule.”

This is strong - almost menacing - stuff and Cameron would be a fool not to recognise what a stupid mistake he has made.

There are some four years before the next general election and no doubt Cameron will be hoping (even though he will not be fighting it as Prime Minister, and probably not at all) this will be forgotten between now and then.

But these people have long memories, and they do not deserve to be treated like this.

Cameron should apologise at the very least, or the Tories could be paying a high price at future elections - national and local. And he will have only himself to blame.

THE multi-faceted campaign to secure Britain’s exit from the European Union, is in a state of shambolic disarray.

There have been ego problems (so, what’s new?), internal squabbling and general mayhem. Kate Hoey, a prominent Labour MP has stormed out of one group.

Now, they have Lord (Nigel) Lawson, the former Tory Chancellor, given a key role at the top of the Brexit campaign.

Lawson - as Margaret Thatcher found out to her cost - does not suffer fools gladly, and it is expected that he will bang a few heads together to secure some semblance of order and unity into the campaign.

How politicians get themselves into this kind of mess with people supposed to be of a like mind, is hard to grasp.

PHILIP HAMMOND, the Foreign Secretary, has denounced the UN report into the Julian Assange affair as “ridiculous”. This must be the understatement of the year.

In fact, that report is a scandalous,travesty of the facts. It is about as far from the truth as it is possible to be.The UN should be ashamed to have produced a report without, apparently, checking a single fact.