AFTER months of renegotiation, we have a so-called ‘deal’ that has more holes in it than a colander.

To be fair to the Prime Minister, he tried, but we all knew that whatever scraps were thrown to him by the EU, they would never pass the sovereignty test.

And, of course, they don’t.

Increasingly we have become answerable to unelected commissioners, who certainly do not have our best interests at heart.

Our attempts to renegotiate, which is nothing more than tinkering around the edges, will still leave our interests subject to approval by our 27 fellow, EU members.

Even the new ‘red card’ system, where we can block laws we don’t want, must be agreed by at least 15 member states.

That’s just never going to happen.

And the ‘emergency brake’ is a misnomer if ever there was one, especially if the driver isn’t at the wheel but in the back seat controlled by Brussels.

Meanwhile, what are we planning to do about the unsustainable free movement of peoples within the EU?

The answer: nothing.

Most recent figures show that the net inflow of EU workers was 180,000, and even with reduced payments, we will continue to be a magnet.

This when the whole issue of immigration is tearing the EU apart, persuading even countries like Sweden to shut the door.

Where has common sense gone?

On the vexed question of welfare, the inevitable compromise has been reached which will do nothing but lead to years of benefit chaos.

In the House on Wednesday, I told Mr Cameron that we had no right to hand our democracy, sovereignty and freedom to a bureaucratic and unaccountable EU.

There is a life after the EU.

We just need the courage to seek it.