As frustrating (and predictable!) as an England batting collapse is the Express and Mail’s predilection for publishing at face value any old garbage sent out in a press release by Europhobic Tories.

Considering these papers would probably print “Brussels bureaucrats eat babies” given the slightest chance, it came as no surprise to see them indulge Conservative MEP Philip Bradbourn by running his claims that the EU intends to force thousands of people to retake their driving tests.

This is of course utter rubbish.

The draft directive on EU driving licences provides for Member States to keep their own rules for testing drivers. There is no requirement for people to be retake their test every 10 years, only for them to update the picture on their licence once a decade (as is already a requirement in Britain now for the new plastic cards). There is a proposal that drivers with certain medical conditions (such as serious neurological diseases and some angina sufferers) should be tested every 10 years for their suitability to drive, which is something quite different from retaking their test.

Bradbourn, the Tory transport spokesman, said: "The EU is trying to dictate to Member States what they need to do in terms of driving tests and licences."

More nonsense - and he knows it.

Legislation that is actually wanted by every country - and has been approved by the EU Council of Ministers with ministers from every Member State - hardly amounts to "dictation"!

And why do countries want it? Because it will replace over 150 different types of driving licences across Europe with a streamlined set of.... just one.! Because it will make forgeries more difficult. Because it will stop drivers banned in their country from getting a new license in another. Because it will raise standards among those who drive on our roads across Europe.

As with so much Eurosceptic myth making, the story is warped to demonise the EU for what is merely a common sense proposal.

While I was looking at this on the Daily Mail’s website (I must make clear I don’t buy the thing!) I stumbled over a story from 30th September, with the headline “Lives at risk as driving test fraud hits ‘terrifying’ new levels". So you might think the Mail would welcome measures to combat driving licence fraud - but, no, their obsession with attacking anything to do with Europe outweighs their own assessment on the issue.

And, as to Phil Bradbourn MEP, I first met him years ago when he was active in European youth and student organisations. He seemed to be an enthusiastic pro-European. Now, he prefers to play that down and pander to the Eurosceptics in his party. I suppose he expects this to help save his skin when re-selection of Conservative candidates comes up. Will it help his conscience?