A bit of French stock in play

Maggie

Now that a French politician has set a precedent by insulting the Leader of the Opposition is it OK to say that Sarkozy is a chippy little shortarse whose wife is a bit of a tart.

peter

Just an example of French irritation in their old enemy yet again not playing by the french rules. Everyone knows the EU was set up for the French and woe betide any nation which challenges that.

The remark is best ignored or laughed off.

Publius

As usual, the thick British hacks have mistranslated "autistic" from the French. Similarly, when Sarko recently described himself as "bulimic", he did not mean he pigs out and then shoves his fingers down his throat.

Forlornehope

Some years ago I was running a management consultancy assignment in a French manufacturing plant. The union plastered the place with posters carrying blood curdling slogans about the perfidious management mercenaries. When I took this up with the plant director I got the legendary gallic shrug. "If they're not outside throwing petrol bombs over the gate it's OK". They weren't and it was. Until the French air force appears over Dover, it's just hot air!

Peter From Maidstone

It is not clear

JGS

What a joy. Lallouche's dopey rant made me laugh out loud. With people like him running Europe it's little wonder that the French feel the need for the occasional invigorating riot.

Peter From Maidstone

It is not clear to me that Britain needs to make any concessions at all to the EU as Blackburn suggests. Indeed after 12 years of abject surrender before the EU I think that the last thing we should be doing is conceding anything. I agree with the suggestion elsewhere that Cameron should have a team of people working their way through every loophole in the Lisbon Treaty so as to be ready to exploit them to the full, but I doubt he is actually doing this as he seems remarkably unprepared for what was surely a situation which has been coming for a long time. At a minimum I would be expecting him to be refusing to pay any more British money into the EU until the accounts are signed off. This would surely be a proposal with almost universal British support.

Irene

Good! I think Cameron must have them rattled - isn't Lallouche just the equivalent to Kinnock's hasty replacement Bryant, that other nonentity brought back to bang on about Kaminsky at every given opportunity

Frank P

Why are you letting your imagination dwell on what a little labour ginger (who obviously was so unsuccessful in his cottaging expeditions that he had to hawk his bare little ass on the internet to drum up takers) thinks about Cameron?

I do worry about you Fraser. Still labouring over the Neather piece, by the way? Your deadline ran out some time ago.

Verity

Perry de Havilland, over on Samizdata.net, has a good thread going on this: A Credulity of Tories.

Frank P

Oh, sorry! DB posted that. Pass it on then please, David. Fraser is obviously busy with Peter and Gerald re-roasting their KGB chestnuts.

MisterE

Strange, isn't it, that while the Lisbon treaty reinforces such assurances from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as:

Article 3:1 - "Everyone has the right to respect for his or her physical and mental integrity."

and

Article 11: "Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers."

this French Minister, who presumably approves of the EU Charter and the Lisbon treaty as a whole given his childish attempt at suppressing criticism of it, thinks it's acceptable to try to defame people as "autistic" just because they hold a differing opinion to him...

JONNY

My conclusion:
whatever people here think, Cameron's position will be reassuringly popular with them what has the votes.
Enough is enough - that's what he's saying.
Enough is enough. Think about it.
What could be more British? What could be more reasonable?

Stepney

The EU have far more to fear from DC rattling his sabre than many of the frothing phobics seem to realise.

The UK supplies a significant amount of moolah to the budget without which many EU edifices fall to the ground; the UK also lends the EU a pretty heavy dose of clout internationally too.

By squaring up to Brussels DC has euro-man in a bit of bother. The refills to the gravy train could be withheld, or may even run out.

The threat of an in-out referendum is enough to replace the Frenchman's weekly suppository.

No wonder they are shouting. They know where the money comes from.

Well played the Cameron boy.

General Zod

Osborne described Brown as autistic.

Vulture

Europe are not listening to Dave, David. The reason that tit Bliar is not going to be Prezza is 1) Iraq and 2) under Buggins' turn system that the EU operates it is the so called Right's turn to fill the post, while Millipede gets the Foreign post. Dave's influence in Eureope, as everywhere else, remains zilch.

Victor Southern

Publius - please tell us how the comment was mistranslated. L'autiste and autisme have very clear and simple meanings in French. I was unaware that they were used as euphemisms for something else or that they had some sense of use to "normal" people which would not be derogatory.

But, then, my first language is not French and I seldom visit the country nowadays.

JONNY

I suspect they'll listen when, at the end of his first term and having been constantly rebuffed, he loses his patience.
And announces a Referendum.

Maggie

"Osborne described Brown as autistic".

Well in his case it was true.

greenslime3

The difference between the rest of the Europeans and us (the Brits) is that we think that the way we do things is a good way. Not necessarily the best but we are generally happy with it. If anyone wants to copy us, that is great too. If they don't, lovely - but just leave us alone to do it our way.

They seem to think that their way is not only the best but the only way, so everyone else must be forced to do it that way too.

Time soon to put our foot down with a firm hand!

SallyC

George Osborne DID NOT describe Brown as austistic. A journalist described George as austistic and he batted it away by saying the guy must be confusing him with Gordon.

Maybe George shouldn't have tried to laugh off the insult as a joke [though some might well find it refreshing that a politican doesn't take himself too seriously] but it is not the same as calling someone 'autistic' out of the blue and of your own volition.

But the misrepresentation is something the left like to make. We know how they like to smear.

SallyC

Incidently, Forlornhope reminds me, the French are pugnacious in peace time aren't they?

Dorothy Wilson

Kelvin Mackenzie, on Sky's review of the papers yesterday, took the view that Lallouche's comments were a gift to DC. He said DC should circulate a copy to every household in the country - and watch his share of the vote soar.

DB

They must be worried if they're wheeling out the personal insults.

Clearly, however, they just don't have a clue about the national psyche; french bloke attacking the leader of the opposition party. You could almost not imaging a better rally cry...

David Ossitt

Forlornehope

“Until the French air force appears over Dover,”

Oh; how I wish, but the surrender monkeys would not dare.

We the English have a long and glorious history of giving them a good kicking.

logdon

A great cartoon in the current Eye.

Pic of Sarkozi and Bruni.

Sarko. Why are you seeing a shrink?

Bruni. I thought it was obvious, shortarse.

NorthernJohn

Peter from Maidstone - "At a minimum I would be expecting him to be refusing to pay any more British money into the EU until the accounts are signed off"

I'd raise a glass of French claret to that.

David Ossitt

Peter from Maidstone.

"At a minimum I would be expecting him to be refusing to pay any more British money into the EU until the accounts are signed off."

Go to the top of the class; what a superb idea.

The more I think about it the more it appeals; your suggestion has so much going for it.

It will appeal to the Englishman's notion of fair play and honesty.

It will get up the noses of the French and the Germans.

Probably Holland, Denmark and many of the new member countries will follow our example.

It will hasten the end of the EU project. Hurrah!

Cato

Cameron should just wait out Obama, sign a free trade agreement with the U.S. in 2013, and begin extricating the UK from this European morass once and for all. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is not a European nation--it's time to recognize that economically the Channel is wider than the Ocean.

Alan Douglas

"Until the French air force appears over Dover."

What, to surrender ? Don't recall them ever doing much fighting.

Alan Douglas

DavidDP

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8345199.stm

“But he told the BBC he considered shadow foreign secretary William Hague a “friend” and would work with him.

He said he was prepared to “live with” whatever policy the UK had on Europe”

Tiberius

There is a good reason why the French called their primary fighter plane a Mirage.

SallyC

Seems the French minister has now 'retreated' from his comments.

NorthernJohn

The back-pedalling begins:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8345199.stm

Ex-Tory voter

"whatever people here think, Cameron's position will be reassuringly popular with them what has the votes" What makes you think the people here don't vote, Jonny? Cameron's position is the polar opposite of "reassuringly popular" with me and I'm heading for the polls as soon as I get the chance. I suspect I may not be on my own.

Robert Eve

Love your Mirage comment Tiberius!!

Nick

"What, to surrender ? Don't recall them ever doing much fighting."

You've obviously forgotten Vichy France's shelling of Gibraltar during the war.

Verity

Cato, I agree. That is the best solution. We all like Europe and want to stay friends with them, but they're perfidious and aggressive and they don't have English Common Law. They play by different rules.

I also think that once Britain goes, there will be an avalanche. Everyone except France and Germany is in it "because the others are".

John Mounsey

Good sense as usual from Mr Blackburn. I personally believe that there must eventually be a referendum on whether Britain stays in or leaves the EU (at least Lisbon includes an Exit Mechanism - a first for an EU treaty), but I don't think that now is the right time to ask the question. If Cameron manages to confound the daunting electoral arithmetic, he will have enough on his plate without opening a Second Front immediately - the fact some Tory supporters can't apparently see the point of playing a waiting game, does suggest a certain political naivety. That said, I do find myself increasingly irritated by the way that mainland European politicians are so quick to chuck insults at their supposed partners - especially when the partner in question is actually paying their bills (France is still financially a net gainer from the EU). Do I go around shouting that Sarkoszy is a ridiculous, long-nosed, vertically challenged sex maniac with a venal wife and a Napoleon complex? No of course I don't. But there again, I'm English!

Watt Tyler

SOme people still not understanding. David Cameron won't rattle a sabre at Europe because basically he has conceeded in his actions and words his political subservience to it. It is not good enough to call people who are frightened of the unelected power of the EUSSR "frothing." Plus, and to mix metaphores: enough is not enough because the horse has already bolted. Whatever people here think, Camerons position will not reassure reasonable British voters.

Bexleyite

It's not Lallouche, it's Lellouche. His email is plellouche@assemblee-nationale.fr if you wish to complain.

But I gather he's already apologised.

'Autistic' in French, he says, refers to a stubborn person who does not listen, which is apparently is a common term of political abuse in France.

TrevorsDen

No country puts its interests first more than France.

We should follow their precedent.

Michael Booth

Our Humble devil certainly does go around saying things like "Sarkozy is a ridiculous, long-nosed, vertically challenged sex-maniac...' and long may he continue, Mr. Mounsey!

Michael Booth

Whoops - wrong Mr Mounsey!

Kittler

Your quite correct Cato, the UK is not a nation. It is a system of governance like the EU.

DavidDP

I see the latest YouGov, carried out yesterday, shows an increase in the Tory lead. Poor old Ukippers......

Verity

John Mounsey - We've been waiting since Ted Heath. How much longer do you propose we wait?

Verity

Anyone who votes Tory after David Cameron's appalling, weak, faltering performance deserves the bitter disappointment that is in store for them if he gets in.

Bexleyite

The sins of the fathers....

emil

Ah the predictable lady not of these shores wishing another 5 years of Brown on the rest of us. Still praying are we?

Ivy Eileen

@ emil

Well said, sir. Another day, Another rant.

Watt Tyler

For the umpteenth time -

it won't matter what party has the most seats at Westminster. Our govrenment is in Brussels. I know that this is rather a tremendous thing to accept, and that some people can't admit the terrible truth and want to pretend that everything will be alright in the end. But you cannot be happy with a government (the real government in Brussels) that has basically tricked its way into a position of power over us without our say so. Cameron is just another part of that problem.

This isn't a little-Englander thing, its about our birth-right as free men, possesed by each of us for centuries - until now.

JONNY

'appalling, weak, faltering performance'

And so we grind on... and on...and on.. and on

TGF UKIP

Wot's all this about the Frogs being a net E5bn contributor and us being a net 1.5 bn beneficiary. Sounds as imaginary to me as a Frog battle plan based on all out attack.

Meanwhile, the fix that Euro-Dave has got himself into over this should remind us all of just what a silly, cack-handed apology for an Heir he really is.

Pramston

I hope the general population are taking note of the sometimes joyous attacks on Cameron from various quarters. I have heard Labour and foreign politicians,professors and learned commentators across the airwaves saying 'he can't, they won't, it's impossible to...etc etc'. Whilst they enjoy the moment the message I am getting is very clear. Government in Britain is now so restricted by Europe in what it can or can't do that democracy is effectively at an end, as such there is no need for citizens to remain loyal to the state and it is only a matter of time before the revolution begins, it may be years away but it will eventually happen.

Andy Leeds

Can't say I wasn't a bit disappointed by Cameron's statement, but the reality is Lisbon has been ratified. The Tories do hold more cards than many seem to think. There has to be a new EU budget in 2013, and merely refusing to agree to this will concentrate continental minds wonderfully.

But I also think that across Europe there is a huge backlash growing. With the exception of Ireland this wretched treaty has been foisted on the people of Europe by an arrogant and out of touch political class.

I have come to the conclusion that many EU states actually hate Britain: they like our gold, but loath us. It would be far better for them and for us if we worked out a trade deal, like Norway and Switzerland, and left this silly farce. Let them get on with it. I also think such a move by us might release pent up Euroscepticzim in many other states which at the moment is 'suppressed' and muffled.

Frank P

Andy Leeds

Continental Europe can be summed up thus: two nations there will never forgive us for the defeats they suffered at the hands of the Brits and Yanks during the last century; the rest will never forgive us for the fact that they had to be rescued by us - an even worse humiliation in some ways.

Now, due the ludicrous policies of overweening ambition, greed and ideological aims of several UK governments of both main parties over the past 50 years or so, it's our turn in the barrel. Just reach for the Vaseline.

Moreover there's worse to come as Islamic jihad hots up its act. The straw in the wind in Texas last night is a portent.

In the meantime, just face the music - and dance! A nation of Heroes has spawned a nation of Dhimmis.

Frank P

That picture illustrating this post: what a fucking nerve this little twerp has to construct that photo op! Norman Tebbit - you seem to be the only true blue still extant: can we have you comment on this please?

Matt

You say: "As a rule, British politicians tend not to invoke ‘sensitive conditions’".

Let us recall that three years ago, (then) shadow chancellor George Osborne suggested that Gordon Brown could be "faintly autistic".