France says Au revoir Monsieur Blair

France is giving Tony Blair a rather warmer send-off than his fellow Britons. That is tout à fait normal since France, unlike Britain, long ago accorded him the honour of an eponymous doctrine. Le blairisme is an inspiring touchstone for the French political world and its founder is generally more admired -- albeit grudgingly -- on this side of the Channel than in his homeland.

France awoke to blanket media cover of the British prime minister's exit. First there was an explanation because no French president or prime minister has voluntarily left office since General de Gaulle in 1969.

The French assessment of Blair can be summed up as: brilliant communicator who did a great job enriching Britain and bringing peace to Northern Ireland but pity about Iraq and the British poor who missed his revolution.

France-Inter devoted most of its two-hour breakfast show to Blair's exit, hauling in the great and good for commentary from both sides of the Channel. The radio station opened its morning news with an acid account of the Blair decade from Stephen Frears, France's favourite British film director. But it failed to explain that Frears is an anti-Blair lefty.

Only Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, the former French President, really spoiled the party by suggesting that Britain should now be kicked out of the European Union.  Britain's latest opt-outs from the EU, negotiated by Blair in Brussels last weekend, confirmed that Europe should now accompany its un-cooperative club member to the exit, said Giscard.   

Libération marked the occasion by devoting almost its whole edition to the Blair Revolution and Le Monde issued an eight-page supplement [top picture].

The conclusions  echoed the French consensus that Blair had built intelligently on the groundwork laid by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. This had generated prosperity that Europe can only envy but also sharpened the rough side of society that France deplores.

Figures for child poverty, illiteracy and "precarious" jobs are being deployed to demonstrate Britain's dark side compared with the western Continent. Histoire magazine did the best job depicting a repressive new Big Brother state with 4.5 million surveillance cameras and packed prisons.

As in Britain, Iraq and Blair's loyalty to President George W Bush is seen in France as the stain on his record.   

All sides in the recent French presidential season used le blairisme as a reference for reform. Nicolas Sarkozy, the rightwing winner, voiced his enthusiasm more openly than Ségolène Royal, the Socialist loser. Blair is still seen by the old gauche française as an "ultra-liberal" (meaning free-market capitalist) in leftist guise. 

But there was a new tone of realism today. Libération praised Blair for adapting the British left to the reality of globalisation. Laurent Joffrin, its editor, wrote: "Blair's maxim fits in one sentence: a left which understands the 21st century can win and change the life of its voters. That is the great lesson of this decade that has stirred both enthusiasm and bitterness. When will we get around to meditating on it ?"
Joffrin concluded, though, that le blairisme, was not exportable to France.

Poor François Hollande, who is clinging on as leader of the bedraggled Socialist party, offered an honest valedictory comment this morning.  He cited his party's qualms over the lot of Britain's poor under Blair, but added: "We can always pick faults but I note that Blair was elected three times in a row. His citizens trusted him. We would like to be trusted by ours the next time."

Comments

[Robert Marchenoir]

Yes, Joffrin said that Blairism could not be imported to France. French lefties always say such things.

Mention any country, even governed by the left, where free-market policies get results, and the best you can wring out of them is : "Yeah. OK. It works THERE. But it could not be imported here. See, we are different."

Unfortunately, they never explain why. They just take a knowledgeable pose which is supposed to impress you to death, imply they could write an entire book to support their stance... but they never do.

Joffrin is no different.

This has now reached the proportions of a running gag.

[Edward Johns]

Taking into account the recent weather conditions in the UK, I think that Mr Blair can honestly say
" Apres moi le deluge "

[Daniel Strohl]

"We would like to be trusted by ours the next time."

Poor François knows that this will be difficult, since his main electorate ("les enseignants" et la fonction publique, EDF, SNCF) will use in the future as they have done in the past their trusted weapons (strikes) if anybody dares to modify even slightly their "avantages acquis" to adapt them to the changing world. A good example is the train drivers, who go on retirement at 50 due to excessive stress, but who are nevertheless able and fit enough to resume on the fly the same jobs elsewhere for a much higher pay and who get their "retraite" as well.

But this (strike) weapon functions like a boomerang, since it deters ordinary voters, even left leaning ones, to vote for "les socialistes".

If the strikers (or "les marcheurs", as I call them) and their unions understand and admit that things are changing, the left may have a chance next time, provided they have a credible candidate.

[rocket]

Rather sad that the French press finds fault in the repressive big brother with 4.5 million cameras. Just a question of time before the changes in the makup of society in France obliges lawmakers to do the same. Just this morning , I took the Metro. What did I see ...Cameras! On the bus on the way back what was there...A camera! On the streets at intersections what did I see....Cameras!

So unfortunately this is nothing more than an exercise in sophism that many talking heads like to engage in here in France. Believe you me, it all goes down to the French pastime of "detourner les lois" and thinking they can get away with it.

As per the phrase "It would never work here" This is just another poorly constructed national truth yet in reality an excuse for contemplating "son nombril"

Fear! my dear watson, Fear!

[Frank Schnittger]

The whingeing Poms don't know a good thing when they have one. Iraq and the slavish servility towards Bush were his big mistakes, but besides that he transformed the British landscape by massively increasing spending on social and infrastructural programs and correcting the gross under-investment and ideological privatisations of the Thatcher years. Northern Ireland was his big success, and he may yet make a major contribution to world peace in his new role as Middle East envoy.

Those commentators who see le blairisme as being primarily about the free market don’t understand that he massively increased social intervention and spending and dragged social policy on human and gay rights out of the dark ages..

[Ros]

I agree with most of Frank Schnittger's comment but I do think the phrase " The whingeing Poms " is a bit offensive!

[Edward Johns]

Hi Daniel Strohl,

"but this (strike) weapon functions like a boomerang, since it deters ordinary voters, even left leaning ones, to vote for "les socialistes".

you are probably aware of the capital made out of the "Winter of Discontent" in the UK during the 70's by the Right. During this period rubbish went uncollected and even the dead were not buried as a result of strikes. Whether or not the stories were inflated by the media, the damage was done and for years the Conservative party were able to wheel out those actions as political ammunition.

[Daniel Strohl]

FRANK,

I suppose Poms means Brits. What is the origin of this word ?

[Dominique]

Robert,

You always forget the most obvious difference between France and the UK that explains why solutions can not be the same on both sides of the channel :

the UK is Kingdom, France is a Republic.

that explains it all.

[Dominique]

To all,

I am afraid you don't really get it. It is not a qustion of :

"It would never work here".

It's a question of:

"We don't want it here"

This is very different. You all seams to forget some little details about democracy, people's will, etc.. you know? those little things that makes political sciences different from, let say, chemistry?

[Frank Schnittger]

As Charles can no doubt explain better than I, the phrase "whingeing Poms" is a term of endearment used by Australians to describe their loving relationship with Britain and Britons. (Synonyms include pommy bastards Or bloody whingeing poms. That last expression comes about because the Poms have always been perceived as coming over as immigrants and then continually complaining about the state of affairs in Australia. "It's too hot", whinge the Poms. "The beaches are too sandy!" they cry. "The sea is too wet!". And so on, and so forth. At least that's been the stereotype.)

I vaguely recall that the term Pom may come from Pomme - or from the alleged British prediliction for having everything with chips (pomme frites), including carrying them on their shoulders.

In any case, the term may loosely be translated as losers, as it is often used in a sporting context!

[azloon]

"we don't want it here" -- dominique

judging from the election, this "we" you speak of may be an editorial 'we' only. many others may be feeling more experimental than you.

reminds me of the very old lone ranger joke (any lone ranger joke is ipso facto ancient): tonto and the lone ranger are looking up at hillsides and realize they are surrounded by indians (sorry, native americans). the lone ranger looks at tonto and asks, what are we going to do?

tonto answers: what is this 'we' sh**, paleface??

[Edward Johns]

Hi Dominique,
I don't think the summary
"the UK is Kingdom, France is a Republic." really says very much.
Perhaps you could expand for me.
I'm sure you don't really believe that the UK monarchy has any real power do you ?

[Terry]

Dominique:

Well, people's will seems to be changing in France with the rout of the socialist party. Whether it leads to any meaningful change, we will see.

Perhaps those policies you espouse are going quietly into that dark night.

[rocket]

Dominique

"the UK is Kingdom, France is a Republic."

I have to say that it seems the other way around to me and the rest of the world.

Do us all a favor and try reading a history book once in awhile

[Dominique]

Dear all,

I just herald facts. It has nothing to do with british monarchy being powerfull or not eventhough symbols are important (By the way, please all note that the symbolic function of the queen is carried by the president in France. He is also representing the french identity!)

Article 1 of the 5ft french republic, in both french and english :

"« La France est une République indivisible, laïque, démocratique et sociale.
Elle assure l'égalité devant la loi de tous les citoyens sans distinction d'origine, de race ou de religion.
Elle respecte toutes les croyances.
Son organisation est décentralisée. »

in english :

"France shall be an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic. It shall ensure the equality of all citizens before the law, without distinction of origin, race or religion. It shall respect all beliefs. It shall be organised on a decentralised basis."

Can't you see the difference with the UK? In France, things are written in what is called a constitution. That makes things different and explains why solutions in the UK may not be used for France and vice versa.

The word "SOCIAL" is in our constitution! I did not thought i would have had to tell you about this. I thought you knew!

[Dominique]

azloon ,

Of course, that was an editorial "WE".

But you will be surprised anyway. Sarko is certainly not the "liberal" (in the french meaning of the word) you all think.

He will be, as always in french history when the country needs a boost, a head of state with a strong commitment for big national projects. He already said it yesterday in Roissy while inaugurating the new airport bulding. He also gave some clues at the european summit when he succeded to have the "free competion" article removed. It is obvious that he is preparing somme big state investments in infrastructures and already preparing the EU to be quite on that matter.

[D.Strohl]

FRANK,

Thanks for the explanation about Poms.

Pommes (frites) is a widely exported word. For instance, in a restaurant, Bavarians will order "Pommes" (pronounced pommès).

[D.Strohl]

Hi Edward Johns,

Yes, I am aware of what happened in the UK in the 70's but of course, I do not know all the details (for instance the corpses not being buried, if one may speak of details in this case ...).

Our unions seem to understand now that "trop de grèves tue(nt) la grève" (too many strikes kill the strike - this formulation was invented for taxes). The most irritating strikes occur at the railway, since one can hardly say that our "cheminots" belong to the Lumpenproletariat ...

Sorry, Edward, if you live in France, you know all this as well as I do.

ROCKET,

May be Dominique is already a "professeur d'histoire".

DOMINIQUE,

AZLOON's joke about Tonto and the ranger is good. I have got another one for you about Marianne and the left (sorry, my joke is a bit longer):

In the merchant navy, there is an elderly captain, disliked by his crew, because he is very rude when he gets drunk, which happens rather often. But besides that, he has the reputation of being "un fin manoeuvrier" in all circumstances. For instance, when his ship enters a harbour, he always pushes the pilot aside saying "I am in charge - you shut up" and then directs the manoeuvers without any problem whatsoever.

But one day, he exaggerates grossly with liquor (presumably Scotch ...) and as a result, he has a heart attack and dies. The first officer checks if the old man is really dead and says : Now, I am the Captain !

Then he takes a key that his former boss had always with him - it was the key of the safe (the first officer had noticed that the captain always opened the safe, read a paper which was inside, and put the paper back into the safe before coming on the bridge to direct manoeuvers).

The first officer, who was a bright "Capitaine au Long Cours", but who was handicapped by a lack of experience, said to himself "Now, I will learn the secret of this damned old rascal". He opens the safe - there were only four words on the paper :
STARBOARD = RIGHT
BACKBOARD = LEFT

[christopher muir]

Frank Schnittger is perfectly correct in his description of the term "whingeing Poms" in the colourful Australian vernacular. However, it is not always expressed with affectionate intent. Most Brits laugh it off, but a minority don't like the description at all. What still seems to bind the UK and Australia is sport - rugby and, what the French consider to be a mysterious game, cricket.

[Dominique]

Rocket,

"Dominique

"the UK is Kingdom, France is a Republic."

Do us all a favor and try reading a history book once in awhile".

Well, i did check, and i am afraid all history books confirm this...France is actually a republic, and the UK is a kingdom.

Rocket, before you open rather complex history books on your own, may i suggest you first to learn how to read simple stories, as you obviously often do not anderstand simple words?

don't take it personally, it's just for the blog's interest! ;=))

[Edward Johns]

As regards whingeing Poms, two alternative suggestions for the origin of the term 1) an acronym for "prisoner of his majesty", said to have originated in Australia as a result of so many convicted felons having been transported to Australia in the early colonizing days as a punishment.
2) The name arising again in Australia as a comment on the British nobility's habit of using pommade as facial make-up.
Take your pick !
Hallo Dominique,as regards the French having a written constitution, I have also seen at many (most) sea-side resorts in France signs which state that dogs are not allowed on the beach, even when on a leash. These pieces of writing are also widely ignored.

[Edward Johns]

Hallo again Dominique, here is the Wikepedia introduction to another piece of writing on the subject of constitutions.....

Magna Carta (Latin for "Great Charter", literally "Great Paper"), also called Magna Carta Libertatum ("Great Charter of Freedoms"), is an English charter originally issued in 1215. Magna Carta was the most significant early influence on the extensive historical process that led to the rule of constitutional law today. Magna Carta influenced many common law and other documents, such as the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, and is considered one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy.
No doubt it was conceived by some early French communards.

[Thierry]

Arrogance?

« "I have been very lucky and very blessed. This country is a blessed nation. The British are special, the world knows it, in our innermost thoughts, we know it. This is the greatest nation on Earth. It has been an honour to serve it."
"I give my thanks to you, the British people, for the times I have succeeded, and my apologies to you for the times I have fallen short. Good luck."

[Dominique]

Edward

Thanks! Every one knows about this. But this does not make the UK less a kingdom, and France less a republic.

More, having a written constitution does not mean that people respect the law more or less than in an other country. Neither did i mention that it was better or worse.

It just explains that we (in France) need to find solutions that can be somehow written on a paper! I just wanted to mention that this explains in many ways why solutions from the UK can not always be implemented in France. Thi is undoubtly a constraint, but as members of the Oullipo and dogma's cineasts say : "la contrainte est créatrice"

This also explains somehow why France and the UK have so antagonists views about the EU. We (the french) want to write everything down while the english would prefere not to write anything down! No surprise this can only split one day.

Please stop being paranoiac! did i ever mention the the UK was less a democracy because it was not a republic? of course not. Countries are different. You should accept that. Remember that diversity is the key! (UK's motto)

[rocket]

Hi Dominique

"Rocket, before you open rather complex history books on your own, may I suggest you first to learn how to read simple stories, as you obviously often do not anderstand simple words?

don't take it personally, it's just for the blog's interest! ;=))"

Dominique

I obviously don't "anderstand"

Only could a man/woman of your stature constantly make of fool of themselves on this blog and not yet see your kindergarden mistake. But you do a great service to the word stupidity and I'd love to sing the Mayonnaise oops! La Marseillaise with you one day.

You're so funny it's hard to take you seriously. Please don't stop

I'm loving it (tm)

[Edward Johns]

"Countries are different. You should accept that. Remember that diversity is the key! (UK's motto)"
Thanks for that Dominique--you have now expanded your thoughts sufficiently for me to understand what you meant by
"the UK is Kingdom, France is a Republic." I celebrate the differences between countries, there are many ways to achieve a functioning society.

[Maggie M.]

I think Dominique could be right saying, " it would never work here "

" WORK " being the main point, for the work shy French !

[Juliette]

Tu devrais remercier Dieu (l'ami imaginaire de tellement d'Etats-uniens)que Dominique ait fait cette faute d'orthographe Rocket, cela t'évite de chercher désespérement des arguments pour contrecarer les siens

[Santiago]

Actually, France is an elective monarchy and Great Britain a sort of republic with a decorative crown on top.

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

Whingeing means whining. "How do you know a Qantas jet plane is full of Poms?" "The whining doesn't stop after the plane has landed." It comes from the "Ten Pound Poms", Britsh settlers in the 1950's on an assisted (£10) passage but unable to stop complaining about the heat and the flies and the "five o'clock swill" when workers had 5-6 pm to hurl back frosties before the pub closed at 6, resulting in colourful expressions for vomiting and dashing to the toilet:
1: Chunder; make the technicolour yawn; shout for "Ralph" or his sister "Ruth"
2: Hurtle into the dunnee; siphon the python; point Percy at the porcelain; .
Of course it did not take a move to Oz (Australia) to make the English whine and complain. Some Council (Municipal) house tenants have been known to say: "I went to the toilet ten days ago, and the Council haven't been around yet to pull the chain!"

[D.Strohl]

If I continue to read this blog, I will turn into a distinguished "Pomologist" ...

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

PS: Pom or Pommy is from Pomegranate, the Englishman's complexion, reddish, ruddy. Evelyn Waugh, finding his own hat in the Ritz hotel cloakroom saw "Florid" on a piece of paper inside it. An Englishman applying for a visa at Australia House, London, was asked if he had a criminal record. "Do I have to have one to get in?" he said. A country that exiled children to the other side of the world for life for stealing a loaf of bread can expect no mercy from their descendants:
"I'll tell yer straight, I'm an Aussie, mate, and I think I'm getting plastered...
"And your bird's all look, and your beer's all crook, and you're a Pommy Bastard!"

[Peter Mason]

So far this blog seems to have been dominated by Frank's usual snideness toward the British(or should that be 'the English'?) and Dominique displaying his usual loathing of the UK.

Charles , you say that the French believe Blair's outstanding successes to be the economy and Northern Ireland yet the first principally fell in Brown's purview and the latter is surely a work in progress. Whether either can be recorded as a Blair success really depends upon economic performance under a Brown govt. and whether one or other party in Northern Ireland loses patience with the rate of change and reverts to violence. [I note that an as yet unattributed car bomb has been defused in London today.)

On Europe, he was largely trapped by the logic of the British Europhile position that rather than argue the supposed benefits of European membership the tactical argument that membership enables us to veto hostile proposalsis propounded. This of course means that even a PM as Europhile as Blair has to defend major vetos whilst being viewed in the UK as a failure for the vetos he has given up. Perhaps he regrets his vetoing of EU offices in the UK to dessiminate pro-EU information!

[colin grayson`]

funny how many australians come and settle in the UK , isn't it?

[Frank Schnittger]

It would appear that the mutual love and empathy shared by the French and English peoples is as nothing when compared to the mutual admiration society that exists between Aussies and their distinguished former colonial masters...

[Dominique]

Peter,

"Dominique displaying his usual loathing of the UK."

when was that?

[Monika]

Dominique said:
"It just explains that we (in France) need to find solutions that can be somehow written on a paper!"

Now I absolutely aggree! I've never seen any country so paper loving than the French.

My theory goes:
France administration has to make maximum laws in order to ensure a minimum respect. Btw. I don't know a German word for "derogation" which seems to me to be a pure and unique French concept of dealing with rules ...

Santiago:
"Actually, France is an elective monarchy and Great Britain a sort of republic with a decorative crown on top."

I love that one!

NB: I love to read the discussions on this blog, there's so much bitching by some ... almost like on youtube ...

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

Australians come to the UK seeking fame and fortune: Barry Humphries, as Dame Edna, Clive James, as a journalist, and Germaine Greer as a writer. The rest stay out of interest. As an Englishwoman now living in Perth said to me: "If you live in Australia you have to travel. There's nothing here!"

[marie france]

I would love to read reactions to "the UK should be kicked out of Europe". In age, I stand between Giscard d'Estaing and ,I believe, most of the bloggers. But last week-end I was on a short trip to England, having to adjust to the terrifying pound sterling and my 'cri du coeur' was no other when exchanging impressions with Australian tourists

[D.Strohl]

MONIKA,

It is mostly the French administration (and, of course last but not least "l'Education Nationale") that is paper loving, less so the ordinary French.

"L'administration" needs as many papers as possible to justify their existence (c'est leur raison de vivre). Several commissions manned by intelligent persons are working since years to simplify procedures and to decrease the number of "formulaires". But it is like the hydra of Lerna - when a paper has been withdrawn, it is immediately replaced by another one or preferably others, generally still more complex ... Of course, the a.m commissions are not informed !

You know certainly that "l'Ecole Nationale d'Administration" belongs to our famed "Grandes Ecoles". But even "les anciens élèves de l'ENA", which ipso facto are very brainy (otherwise they would not be able "d'être admis au concours d'entrée, très sélectif") have some difficulties to understand really how the whole thing functions ...

PS : I exaggerate a little bit, of course. Many things work quite well.

[Valentin]

Monika:
"I love to read the discussions on this blog, there's so much bitching by some ... almost like on youtube ..."

lol
mmm it feels like Germany's turn should come anytime now :P

[Valentin]

>> I don't know a German word for "derogation"

lol it's all cultural! Ask any French, for all topic that is taught in school, in any domain, the method is: "this is the rule" and "these are the exceptions".
Or what is true for nature laws is even more so for human ones - let alone rules do need exceptions in order to be confirmed, our latin forebears were saying it : "exceptio probat regulam" ! :)

[elizabeth schumann]

Hey, the French can't grasp the difference between Britain and England, referring to the former as the latter. This is equally true of rugby fans. Their concept of "l'Angleterre" is that it is a hereditary enemy for, unlike Germany, it was a foe in colonial domination. I put little store in their view of Tony Blair. One voter showed he had a grasp, though. When interviewed for the BBC prior to the presiudential election, he replied to the journalist's question: "What does France need?" with a resounding : "Madame Thatcher!". Good on him, as they say in Oz.

[elizabeth schumann]

Oh, and Mr. Bremner, you obviously are colmpletely out of touch with the mood of Britain. Tony Blair was the least trusted of any Prime Minister in living memory when he was re-elected a third time. It's just that there was noone else to elect. Ian Duncan-Smith??????????????

[Actu75]

Elizabeth
Actually this "France needs Thatcher" was first The Economist's cover.
And to add to the delightful "beam in your eye" atmposphere in the Bitain and Rest of the World Versus France match being played on this blog, and to pay rightful tribute to Maggie
Remember this....?
"Y'a pas de gonzesse hooligan,
Imbécile et meurtrière
Y'en a pas même en Grande Bretagne
A part bien sûr Madame Thatcher.."

[Dominique]

There is a german word for dérogation : that's "Derogation".

Pronounce "Derogaatziooôôn"

[martin]

i pretty much agree with dominique as far as his/her refusal of "le blairisme" is concerned. but i don't think it's a cultural problem depending on national traditions. "le blairisme" is not typically british or english or whatever and "le socialisme" or "le refus du blairisme" isn't typically french either. The thing is, the ideology of a market-dominated society has won in britain since Thatcher, whereas "l'idéologie égalitariste française" (and all its drawbacks like "l'administration pléthorique", "la centralisation parisienne" etc.) héritée de la révolution, as some say has been resisting a little. THings could (and will, sooner or later) change on both sides of the Channel. and i agree with dominique, that is the charm of democracy.

[rocket]

Actu 75

"Y'a pas de gonzesse hooligan,
Imbécile et meurtrière
Y'en a pas même en Grande Bretagne
A part bien sûr Madame Thatcher.."

Thanks to the economic polieis of Mme Thatcher, taxes in Britain ahve been lowered it seems

Doesn't the author of these amazing words live in the Uk now? Chuckle chuckle?

and I quote from Wiki

"In 2006 Renaud married Romane Serda, the mother of his son Malone. In 2007 he announced to the press his intention to move his family to London citing a love for British society and expressing disillusionment at the current state of France."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaud_S%C3%A9chan

After his song Manhattan Kabul I wonder when he'll be moving to Manhattan.

[John Gregory Flinn]

...." but I note that Blair was elected three times in a row....."

Blair was only elected in his Sedgefield constituency.
New Labour were elected as the party with most seats in a parliament that does not represent the will of the people - i.e. most voters did not vote for a New Labour government!

I do not believe the British vote for a person, they vote for policies - especially those that promise some kind of renewal. For example; the Welfare State in 1945, an end to nationalisation in the 1950s, taming of the Unions in 1979 and whatever it was that Tony Blair sold in 1997!

A major factor- perhaps the biggest - in Britain's successful economy is house-price inflation and the industry that has developed around it.
Northern Ireland is still in progress as Peter Mason points out.
I don't think Blair will count Dr. Paisley as first minister as his success.

He had some strategic success in Europe in getting the A 10 countries accepted rather quickly because it was thought they tend to support the British view about the EU.
However M. Sarkosy's recent deletion of that significant adjectival clause about competition may enable France to re-assert its authority in Brussels, since Gordon Brown might just drop the ball.

PS. "Pom" derives from the way the English are perceived to speak (to Australians) - as though they have a plumb in their mouths!

[Monika]

Dominique,

obviously taken directly from French ;) as I said there's no word for it in German so it had to be borrowed XD

Btw it is not necessarily a bad thing that "derogation" ...

[Peter Mason]

Colin Grayson - many Australians [and New Zealanders, South Africans, etc.] come to Britain under the old Commonwealth visa sheme which permits them to work for 50% of their stay. The culture in the so-called 'old' Commonwealth is one where travelling to obtain experience is the norm so this dovetails with the scheme. As a result there's a substantial proportion of Aussies, etc. in the UK workforce, usually in the temp market and especially prominent in London and the South-East. I've worked win companies where over 50%of the workforce came from the 'old Commonwealth' and although there's no doubt that many( and not just Aussies) have criticisms of British hideboundness and the like, their basic affection for the British and things British was always clear. In one one engineering consultancy where I worked for over a decade the rule of thumb for meetings, whether business or social, was that Australians, New Zealanders, Americans, etc. might be critical of aspects of the British but would be friendly; the antipathy ofFrancophones and the Irish plus many Greeks and Italians was a foregone conclusion. [Interestingly a French Director I worked with in that company would take'an Auusie, kiwi or Zim' as an employee ahead of any European despite being an avowed 'anti-anglo-saxon'.]

Dominique - one only has to read a few of your posting to various blogs, regardless of the subject matter, here to realise that the tenor indicates that you loathe the British/English. That's without those containing gratuitously offensive remarks such as describing the Queen as a harlot. [Before you get excited about the monarchy being an in to wind me up...sorry, I'm not a monarchist, merely aware that your comment was intended to offend.]

[Dominique]

Peter

"one only has to read a few of your posting to various blogs, regardless of the subject matter, here to realise that the tenor indicates that you loathe the British/English."

I repeat : when did i loathe the Brit/english?? As for monarchy, when did i intend to offend? If you felt offended, then, only blame your self or your own relationship with th monarchy! Don't put me in your nevrose!

[marie france]

Peter, let us just have Gordon Brown drop the UE ball and see what happens. It is the English themselves who offend the Queen in the way they behave themselves collectively. But of course I am a French monarchist.

[Frank Schnittger]

Peter Mason - far from being snide about the British I am in fact in awe and admiration of many of the things they have achieved in world affairs - most recently Blair’s contribution to the resolution of the Northern Ireland conflict.

I obviously cannot comment on your experience of the Irish in business, but you may not be aware that there has been a sea change in Irish attitudes to Britain and all things British in the last 10-20 years.

Some of this is due to Blair's self-less dedication to the resolution of the above named conflict about which the Irish appear to be a lot more positive, appreciative and confident than the British themselves.

We do not, for instance, have a problem with Ian Paisley's elevation to first minister, despite his lifelong dedication to bigoted, sectarian, and reactionary causes. He is, quite simply, the elected head of the NI administration, and as such is the representative of the largest political party and a large section of the community.

The fact that he exercises his mandate within an agreed political structure which recognises the validity of all political aspirations within NI is what matters.

I would be absolutely shocked if the recent bomb attempts in the UK were the work of Irish terrorists, and surprised that you would think there was a significant possibility that this might be the case.

I think you have missed the significance of relatively recent economic and political changes in Ireland and their consequent effect on attitudes to Britain.

We may love to beat you at Rugby (who doesn't) but you should see that as a back handed compliment - the respect in which you are held. When we last met in Rugby (Ireland 43 - England 13), England were accorded a thunderous welcome and "God Save the Queen" was greeted with an absolutely respectful silence.

There was absolutely no negative incidents in a match involving a crowd of 80,000 fans intermingled throughout the stadium. This despite the fact that the Croke Park stadium is the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association, hotbed of Irish nationalism, and the scene of an atrocity in 1920 when British army troops and irregulars entered the stadium during a match and fired into the crowd killing 13 spectators and a well known football player.

We have a history which shouldn't be forgotten, but it is history. My jovial reference to Whingeing Poms referred to what we see as the almost hysteria of negativism in many British media and blogs towards Tony Blair who, for all his faults, we see as one of the greatest British Prime Ministers ever.

No one was more opposed to the Iraq invasion than I, and more critical of the flimsy evidence produced by Colin Powell at the UN and by Tony Blair in the infamous dossier. He made some major mistakes. But let us also not lose sight of his positive achievements which included a period of prosperity unprecedented in British history.

I think history will judge him more kindly than the majority of Brits appear to do at the present time. His achievements are taken for granted whilst his failures are highlighted, especially by those who were themselves quite bellicose about the Iraq threat at the time.

There is a side to the British character which appears to revel in self-abasement - thus every national Soccer team manager that ever was has been hounded out of office. Poor Henman was lambasted for not being good enough to win Wimbledon. All political careers end in failure (Enoch Powell), and much of the hysteria may be media induced. But who buys all those bloody tabloids anyway?

[Pierre]

Dominique :

"
the UK is Kingdom, France is a Republic.
"

The unemployment rate in the UK is 4%, in France 8.5 % (officially).

But you probably don't care. Like all good socialists, living on other's taxes even if the results are unemployment and poverty.

Before you attack me, I've got nothing against the socialists (except that I'd like to deport them to Cuba to enjoy *full* socialism), but your comments about Great Britain are incredibly rude and prejudiced.

You're right about Sarkozy. He's just another right-wing socialist (i.e. a conservative one). I don't think unemployment will continue to decrease in France with such idiots. But he'll probably get reelected, blaming globalization, the Yellow Peril, egoists British, the Polish Plumber and greedy speculators for France's problems - as usual.

[Dominique]

Pierre,

What a pitty France is not able to recognize the huge potential of brilliant people like you. You'll probably have to go abroad to find better opportunities. What a waste for France, but sorry, we don't have the jobs for so highly qualified people like i believe you are.

We will miss you, and will go on trying to educate all the idiot socialists that will stay in france avoiding work with social benefits.

[terry]

Pierre:

Well done. I'll like the export part to Cuba to enjoy full socialism. hehehe.

What did you expect from someone who snorts from the government trough?

[John Gregory Flinn]

Frankly Frank, I have never understood your admiration for Blairism, I suppose your views may be more representative of those in the Irish Republic than in the UK. Although no doubt your other remarks about Britain and the British will be appreciated.

Its not just the mistrust or deceit that he manifests – and it now appears that his (and Bill Clinton's) claims about the plight of the Kosovan Albanians are just as questionable as those about Iraq. It's the incompetence of his mandate as well, the only exception being Gordon Brown's voracious ability to tax, tax and tax again (some of which - on tobacco and vehicle fuel - he persuaded M.Chirac to copy).

Despite pumping money into the economy most of it went into public sector jobs of the sort that get advertised in 'The Guardian' and only increased socialised and, ultimately, politically correct issues. (And this is why the French left applaud his regime).
For example, it may be claimed he has made Britain more tolerant – I think events over recent past have shown this to be 'complacency' and fear of the political correct “police”.
And, there is the current obsession with global warming and 'saving the planet ' which has now the status of a 'received wisdom' in Britain, and a PC crime to deny.
Any economic successes seem to be as a result of house-price inflation and the industry it has spawned including the retail spin-offs.

His record in N.Ireland is not as is claimed.
Mrs T. started the reconciliation process with the Anglo-Irish agreement. The British Army did the rest by containing and wearing down the IRA to the point where Sinn Fein – the IRA's political wing - sought to come in from the cold and be sheltered by the nationalists; which they have since eclipsed!
Blair was presented with this denouement almost as a gift, and only had to preside over a settlement. However he gave away too much for the Unionist's liking and caused a massive shift in their voting towards Dr Paisley and his brand of politics. Clearly they want an effective counterweight against Blair's pretty obvious strategy of self-aggrandisement, and any subsequent pressure from the Republic.

No doubt the words 'generous' and 'magnanimous' may be current in the Republic about Blair and N.Ireland, and being neighbourly is certainly a laudable quality. But the reconciliation has only just begun, I don't know if any of sectarian barriers in Belfast have been removed but it might be a while yet.
Its taken two or three generations to reach this stage and, e.g., the bad taste of De Valera's politicking with Adolf still lingers.

[Actu75]

Rocket

I wouldn't have guessed you were such an accurate Renaud's fan. (or all credits google&wiki?).
Actually I am not exactly one. But English bashing is finally so rare that it was worh quoting.
Please note that when Renaud moved to settle to England Thatcher had already left the 10 downing street for uite a long time. And not even him would argue that Blair = Thatcher.
Furthermore since the Swinging London times rock-pop musicians always found something special in London. I doubt it has anything to do with the Tories, or the tax cuts policy.

[rocket]

"Histoire magazine did the best job depicting a repressive new Big Brother state with 4.5 million surveillance cameras and packed prisons".

Too many cameras say you!

Tell Histoire Mag to shove their magazine where the sun doesn't shine

[Peter Mason]

Frank - My thamks for your response outlining how you see the current state of Anglo-Irish relations. My comment on the car bombs related to the fact that previous Islamic attacks had been by suicide bombers whereas car bombings have historically been a technique associated with the IRA. Given that fringe movements such as 'Real IRA' are opposed to the current peace process and the prime Blair success being that process it seemed plausible that one of the fringe bodies would seek to derail things. I'm pleased for Northern Ireland that this has not been the case.

[Justin Keeble]

When I was in Australia and asked what Poms or Pomie meant, they told me it stood for Prisoners Of Mother England, meaning that the English that emigrated to Australia never really felt Australian but always English. I found it ironic as they have the British monarch as their head of state and the Union Jack displayed on their national flag. I used to point out that surly they the Australians were still prisoners of mother England for those reasons, it did not go down very well with the locals.

[Ian Varey]

To all the French and British loathers....whoever you are and whereever you are: don't go to one anothers' countries, you obviously don't like one another. Politically, all countries are different, so you won't be able to accept the differencies, therefore, stay away from one another. Socially, our problems reflect our societies. You, obviously, are impervious to this and prescribe your own "one dose for all" comparitive treatment. Don't.You'll get it wrong. Culturally, we all grow up in different environments, i.e, not the same, therefore our outlook, perspective and way of reasoning is very different. You'll never understand that, so never go to one another's country, it is not worth the bother. Oh, and by the way, Dominique, grow up! Your false innocence (your "when did I say that attitude") belittles you. You, like many of the English-French bashers, are quite aware of the impact of your words,so don't play the innocent.

[Ian Varey]

To Marie-Claire: It would only seem right to accept your invitation to express my views on Valery Giscard d'estang's Personal view that Britain should be kicked out of the EU. Here goes....Let me know when it happens and we'll have a party in Britain. The voters against the EU and the don't knows represent around 74%, if my maths serve me right. France and Germany need to start abiding by the ru;les they have set down before preaching to another country and then the EU might be trusted by more of the British electorate

[The 3rd column]

Charles,

Just to remind you that c'est tout à fait normal for Le Monde to give Blair a "warm" send off. Le Monde is left-wing just as Tony Blair is.

I'm one of those Anglo-French who say of the departure of the hypocrite par excellence which is Tony Blair: bloody good riddance! (Can't stand the pillock.)

[Pierre]

I saw nothing rude or prejudiced in Dominique's comments on the UK. On the contrary, he highlights a very significant point, one which sometimes explains a wider chasm between France and Britain than between France and the US. I jest, of course, but in mentioning Magna Carta Mr Johns might remember that England was ruled by the French at the time (albeit a junior branch). You needed Will Jexpire to give you back your identity. But even he couldn't change the wording on your coat of arms: "Dieu et mon Droit".