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I will not vote in today's European election. Instead, I am doing something much more interesting and relevant to the future of Europe and Britain. I am travelling to Riga to speak at the centenary celebrations for Isaiah Berlin, the great Latvian- Jewish philosopher, who explained why democracy and freedom do not always work hand in hand. Why is this trip to Latvia more important than voting? Because, believe it or not, the future of Europe could be decided by this tiny Baltic state.

Before explaining why this is so, allow me another digression - about a remarkable TV documentary to be broadcast on June 19 on BBC Two. Linked to another cultural centenary - that of Felix Mendelssohn - it is called Mendelssohn, the Nazis and Me. This film, charming, hilarious and horrifying in...