We're all well used to the games MPs and spin doctors play in their cynical attempts to manipulate public opinion.

But it’s rare indeed for a politician to explain in advance how his team plans to pull the wool over voters’ eyes.

Yet such appear to be the bizarre tactics of former Tory Health Secretary Andrew Lansley in his efforts to mobilise support for a Yes vote to keep Britain in the EU.

Andrew Lansley, left, has frankly admitted David Cameron, right, would be unable to win ‘revolutionary’ concessions from our partners before the referendum

In a speech to businessmen last week, it emerges, the ex-MP frankly admitted David Cameron would be unable to win ‘revolutionary’ concessions from our partners before the referendum, which he believes will be held in September 2016.

So the Yes camp’s plan, according to his speech notes, is first to lower public expectations and then exceed them, while ‘choreographing’ a huge row with the French to give the false impression of a thumping triumph for Britain.

Of course, this strategy will be wearily familiar to millions who have followed successive prime ministers’ claims of victory against EU empire-building. The only surprise is that Mr Lansley admits the deceit so openly.

What kind of fools do he and his fellow plotters think we are?

Like this paper, voters will decide the best course for Britain after weighing the arguments and judging for ourselves the outcome of Mr Cameron’s talks.

On this of all issues, with its vital implications for our children and grandchildren, we must have a full and scrupulously honest debate.

Any attempts to dupe us – through the dark arts of spin and amateur dramatics, rehearsed with the French – could well blow up in the Yes camp’s face.

Criminally outdated

IN this multi-channel, digital age, it is simply unjustifiable to threaten TV viewers with criminal records and the possibility of jail if they fail to pay £145.50 a year to the BBC, whether they watch the corporation’s output or not.

It is also a scandal that 10 per cent of cases handled by magistrates’ courts are prosecutions for evading the licence fee – with 153,369 convicted in 2013, of whom 32 were jailed for failing to pay fines.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove, pictured, has been trying to persuade cabinet colleagues to decriminalise non-payment of the TV licence

Why should struggling families be forced by the criminal law to subsidise monstrous salaries for BBC bureaucrats such as ‘creative director’ Alan Yentob, on an estimated £330,000 a year?

Non-payment of other bills such as gas, electricity – and subscriptions to other media companies – is dealt with by the civil courts, attracting no criminal penalties.

What makes the BBC so special that failing to pay for it should remain a crime?

This is why the Mail strongly supports Justice Secretary Michael Gove’s efforts to persuade Cabinet colleagues to press ahead with decriminalising non-payment.

Indeed they were trying to do this before being blocked earlier this year by a narrow vote in the Lords, thanks to a rebellion orchestrated by Lord Grade (ex-BBC chairman) and Baroness Benjamin (ex-BBC presenter).

This anachronism must end without further delay.

Hands off, HMRC!

Seven years after backing the Mail’s campaign to curb the environmental menace of supermarket plastic bags, the Tories will finally introduce a 5p per bag charge from October. So far, so welcome. But there’s a nasty sting in the tail.

When the scheme was announced last year, the Coalition assured us that every penny raised would go to green charities, as this paper had urged.

Now it emerges that the Treasury hopes to raise £19million by seizing 83p in VAT for every 100 bags sold.