After this gloomy precedent, Portugal's political class is feeling decidedly nervous about plans to hold further plebiscites.

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The federal republic has never had one, although its constitution allows for plebiscites.

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You could, of course, write a corporate charter that would allow for plebiscites, but changing the charter would demand action by the directors.

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Referendums - or at least the promise of such plebiscites - have, in the past, got political leaders off some pretty painful hooks.

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Labour's Denis MacShane said he would vote "for parliamentary democracy and against plebiscites" and his colleague, David Crausby, believed Mr Nuttall's three-way proposal would "result in a complete dog's breakfast, leaving the British people as frustrated as ever".

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