These are arguments about hope and optimism. It seems that the “in” campaign is preparing the kind of relentless negativity which backfired so spectacularly during the Scottish referendum. Andrew Cooper, Mr Cameron’s former strategist and architect of the so-called “Project Fear” strategy in Scotland, is now one of the key players in the “in” campaign. He is a great believer in winning referendums by frightening the bejesus out of people. Set aside the fact that such tactics almost pushed Scots towards independence, what kind of message would this send out to Britain? The idea that we would be too small, too poor, too vulnerable on our own is the precise opposite of the message that Mr Osborne needs for his leadership campaign.