David Cameron’s long-awaited EU speech is receiving some serious attention, review and comment…and he hasn’t even given the speech yet.

His speech, set for tomorrow, is already written and has been shared with a number of the Prime Minister’s colleagues and senior Parliamentarians.

So, given its visibility, it’s not surprising therefore that some Cabinet members are already critical of the speech in public. Clearly the speech wasn’t embargoed when Vince Cable or Ken Clarke read their copies.

But carping from the sidelines about the contents of the speech isn’t just the preserve of those in the know. It’s also the preserve of those who want to second guess its contents or, perhaps, wrong-foot the speaker in advance.

But for most of us, including the Leader of the Opposition, guessing the contents of the speech is speculation. Idle speculation for some and informed speculation for others.

That’s probably how it should be.

What is refreshing is that a Prime Minister’s speech should be eagerly anticipated…for its content. So often the contents of the Prime Minister’s speeches brim with rhetoric yet lack real substance.

It’s fair to say that before Mr Cameron speaks, this speech has more attention  than many other speeches get immediately after their delivery. Perhaps the Prime Minister really is on to something here? Oh, the anticipation.