Others don't like the idea of voting with Labour, whose recent enthusiasm for cutting the EU budget is regarded on the Conservative benches as rank opportunism.

BBC: Fright night for the government?

Speculation over Labour's commitment to the pledge has been rife recently after an internal Labour Party consultation showed little enthusiasm for reform.

BBC: 'Lib Dems won't split over Labour'

So, increasingly, is Mr Salmond's vision of Scotland's economy: his have-cake-and-eat-it approach to business and public spending, and enthusiasm for financial services, are ominously reminiscent of New Labour's.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

But there is a basic clash between those like Blair, summit host Jose Maria Aznar of Spain and Silvio Berlusconi of Italy -- who want to free up labour markets -- and those like France and Belgium. who retain enthusiasm for the "European Social Model" with a heavy emphasis on workers' rights.

CNN: European leaders