Vella made fur coats in a factory, studied for several degrees, worked as an academic, was banished by Mintoff who shut down the ‘useless’ faculties at the University of Malta, and returned to torture several classes of humanities students with his three-card-trick exams.

Few socialist MEPs hold Muscat in any high regard. They gave his two nominees for the European Court of Auditors short shrift in their hearings.

It seems as if Martin Schulz and Marine Le Pen were up to the same hanky panky. No wonder he and Muscat get on so well together.

Now this deserves a discussion in itself. Are we saying that this man went from factory-hand to hallowed academic? Who were his mates on the selection committee? I mean really.

Like that makes any difference. The Socialists and Progressives, or whatever nonsense they call themselves nowadays, are four-square behind him, now that Malta is the gay capital of the world. So that’s close to half the European Parliament.

And the Commission supports him all the way, for very much the same reasons. I mean you can see that Juncker and Schulz genuinely like Joseph Muscat. Then there’s Mogherini, and let’s not forget the very powerful Sefcovic. In this business, a leg-up goes a long, long way. He’s got them all in his pocket.

Actually, the only thing that could have stood in his way was Theresa May, but she won’t be there when it matters.

Also, to make things clear, I’m saying the European Union leadership disgusts me.

The fur factory was in Malta. No frozen limes, I’m afraid.

An entirely honourable transition. From fur-clad Barbarian on the Frozen Northern Limes to toga-wearing Citizen of Rome. Ave! and make that a double Thracian with garum.