Among many of us in the House of Lords who habitually eat, drink and talk together, regardless of party affiliation, there has been a growing sense of gloom and pessimism at the state of government and politics for some time. Recently, that mood has darkened.

The supporters of Brexit have certainly not been immune from foot in mouth disease, but the Remainers have excelled themselves, not least with the hysteria of attacks on Boris Johnson for wondering aloud if the Kenyan ancestry of President Obama might influence his views. For the avoidance of doubt I should say that my English ancestry may well influence mine, Angela Merkel's German ancestry may influence hers and perhaps Boris might own up too.

While I am at it, I should say that I found it very odd that Mr Cameron should denounce Mr Farage as "poncey" for pronouncing his name in the same way that Mr Cameron pronounces that of the place in which he keeps his car. Even worse was his warning that many of our rights – for example protection against unfair dismissal – derive from Brussels and would be at risk should we escape from the EU. Just which British political party does he imagine would abolish them?