A split parliament would be the worst-case scenario.

Growth did dip in the fourth quarter, but all of the business surveys suggest it will bounce back quite strongly.

It shows quite clearly that Europe's benefiting from strong global demand, and there are now signs that maybe this is going to spill over into domestic demand.

Hiring intentions seem to have gone up a little bit and confidence is edging up. It's right to assume that the ECB will raise rates in March.

It confirms everyone's expectations that they'll raise rates in March. When growth is improving, you don't want to fuel extra speculation.

Well, I found out after I'd resigned from the parliament that he rang a mate of mine in advance of that to say I should get out,