SOME people hate Europe and our part in it so fervently it is possible to worry for their mental equilibrium.

This congregation of the permanently disgruntled is never happier than when fulminating; its members’ lips are permanently pursed, the better to deliver an anti-Europe rant.

The Eurosceptic fruitcakes might even have a point occasionally, but the narrowness of their argument drives sensible people away.

Many inveterate Europe-haters congregate in the Tory Party and more than 80 of them rebelled against David Cameron in Monday’s Common’s vote on whether or not a referendum should be held on Britain’s membership of the European Union.

Europe is a big topic, naturally. Yet when the subject is mentioned a yawn rises in me like a bubble through water.

But it is the issue of the moment, so let us push on. Our relationship with Europe is too important to be surrendered to the anti-brigade. You don’t end up in a sensible place when there is steam shooting out of your ears and a crumpled union flag rolled up behind your ear.

And anyway, the Eurosceptic brigade seems to imagine that we could leave in an instant, taking what is best for us and leaving everything else behind. In truth, any departure would be long, messy and complicated – and the eventual outcome would be hard to predict.

It is possible to feel kindly towards Europe the place and Europe the idea, while still worrying about how much it is all costing us. But shouldn’t we be concerned about something more important, such as, oh, our stagnant economy or Europe’s stuttering financial system; or unemployment and poverty?

You name it and it is probably more pertinent than Europe and its alleged role in our national downfall.

A poll this week for a national newspaper, The Guardian, drew a telling distinction: while 63 per cent of voters aged 65 and over would vote to quit the EU, only 28 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 would do so.

So if older people had their way, a decision would be taken now that is not approved of by those who would be stuck with the consequences.

Many are saying that it is undemocratic to be denied a vote on this issue. This sense of instant entitlement was encouraged by the Downing Street internet poll which led to Monday’s vote in the Commons. But single-issue votes are only one part of democracy: we vote in an election, if we bother to at all, for whichever party (or local MP) we feel will represent us over a wide range of issues.

Democracy, for all its faults, is a bit more nuanced than picking your favourite on The X Factor. Going off on a giant sulk just because we haven’t got our way on one issue seems childish. It also misunderstands the messy tangle of compromise that makes up democracy, doesn’t it?

NOW I am going to talk about vegetables instead (and, no, I am not being rude about MPs or anything).

River Cottage Veg is a new Channel 4 series from Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, who I rather admire, not least for his ability to promote himself.

This latest Hugh product is his manifesto for eating more veg and the food he produces looks lovely. But as someone new to growing, something puzzles me.

When I walk into the garden, I might meet my wife (well, it’s usually the place to look), but I don’t come across a team of gardeners producing beautiful veg for me to cook with.

We have grown some fine veg, alongside some maggoty produce.

This first season has been a pleasure, apart from those last spoiled potatoes, the infested carrots or the broccoli dusted in white fly.

The way Hugh carries on, as charming as ever, it is almost as if he assumes everyone has his endless bounty outside their backdoor. Nice food, Hugh, but not terribly realistic. And anyone having to buy all that stuff would take one look at the bill and head for the frozen peas.