Sarko pulls it off

Maggie

I love Sarko, Merkel and the EU more and more every day. Vive La France!

AndyinBrum

Gordon Brown made to look like a chump, shock!!

Jules

So snub Sarko back and don't go to the European Council meeting next week; empty chair it or send an underling, showing contempt for the whole process.

Brown could also do worse than raising the prospect of withdrawal from EU if they dare to interefere in our financial affairs.

Publius

"Surely it’s Sarkozy who’s made a very calculated snub?"

-- I dare say. They are the masters now. When they say jump, we ask how high.

It wouldn't surprise me either if Brown's spin machine has calculated that photo exposure with Sarko will do him more political harm than good.

unclevanya

Its because Sarko knows that Pa Broone is not only a 'Muffin the Mule', but also politically 'Toast' now. the New Labour (Der Partie Der Neues Arbeits), has turned the UK into a laughing stock of inaction, obfuscation, incompetence and intelectual ignorance (plus possible banana republic status financially).

Sarko will be looking more and more like a certain chap called Napoleon. So the UK will just be an irrelevance in a few years time. Actually, the Euro-land Kommie Kommizzars might decide that the UK has to leave. Now that would be a good thing - maybe?

Dean

Correction - he didn't attack the City of London. He criticised the Anglo-Saxon dogma that unfettered markets produce optimal social outcomes. Given that no major French or German bank collapsed during the credit crisis, and both countries emerged from recession earlier than the UK, perhaps there is merit in his argument.

Wily Trout

Well Gordon sneaked off to sign the Lisbon Treaty. He's in the bag now - no need for anyone to waste time puffing up his ego or treating him like a statesman. Remember how he used to lecture the EU on how to run an economy? That was when he was still reeling in the taxes from the banks and had eliminated boom and bust. It's pay-back time.

David Lindsay

I am not exactly the biggest fan of the EU, but its new system of financial regulation will at least expose the failure of our own politicians to devise a British one.

The hysteria of the City-loving Tories' media allies is jaw-dropping from people who claim to believe in minimal government involvement in the economy. Never mind to believe, as I do, in national sovereignty and in proper immigration controls. If their party also made any pretence to believe in agriculture, manufacturing (still more than twice the size of the entire financial services sector) or small business, then the hypocrisy would be even worse.

The City is where the Tories' main jobs are, taking up most of their time and providing most of their income. That would not change in office. Nor are the other parties any different.

If, instead, you want to vote for national sovereignty, proper immigration controls, agriculture, manufacturing or small business, then you are in the same position as if you want to vote for grammar schools, or against the war in Afghanistan. You are going to have to make your own arrangements. We are going to have to make our own arrangements.

TrevorsDen

The Times reports
"Mr Darling’s push to limit the powers of new European financial supervisors was rebuffed by the region’s finance ministers at a meeting in Brussels yesterday.
Under the terms of an agreement, a government can only oppose an order from regulators if it gathers a blocking majority among the 27 European Union states.
Mr Darling had arrived in Brussels last night saying the burden should be on the regulators to seek a supporting majority from EU members before making an order. "

What is it with this govt. It railroaded through the Lisbon treaty now it whinges that decisions have not gone its way. Why did it not get this sorted BEFORE they denied us a referendum.
If Brown had listened to Dave of course we would have had a referendum before passing the law.

In2minds

Do you remember those strange noises Edward Heath made? It turned out he was speaking French! I can't wait for Gordon Brown to take a turn at this in an attempt to smooth things over.

Naomi Muse

Told you Sarko is a pixie! Mischief is what it's about. So Broon is sulking and not playing. No wonder he has such a large bottom lip...

toco

Having sold ALL our gold for 20% of its current value Brown has now out trumped himself by selling out the entire City for a negative consideration in the form of the unfortunate Cathy Ashton.Is there no end to the hapless one's profligacy.

Watt Tyler

The British are now second rate. That is what they wanted. That is what you voted for. That is what you continue to vote for. Don't complain.

Frank P

Naomi Muse (Is that a sobriquet or your adress in South Ken?)

"No wonder he has such a large bottom lip..."

Yes, when I saw that Rain Forest chap on TV with Sting the other night, I thought how much he looked like Gordon Brown.

Cuffleyburgers

The gesture Napoleon the 5'6" is making with his RH here in Italy is about the most offensive gesture there is, implying the receiver in this case GB (for both gordon and Great Britain) wears horns or is in short, a cuckold.

Highly appropriate given that Britannia has been royally shafted by both Labour and the EU...

Chuck Unsworth

Never, ever, trust the French.

Watt Tyler

"Highly appropriate given that Britannia has been royally shafted by both Labour and the EU..."

And by the Conservatives.

Like I said in the attempt they would publish. You voted for it, you got it. YOu keep voting for it, you'll keep getting it. Don't complain.

Dorothy Wilson

A repeat of Heath and the CFP?

old fogey

In2Minds- He cant even speak english intelligently!!

Watt Tyler

Cuffleyburger: I have a gesture for Sarkozy - one which the French were once terrified of. However, my priorty is to make two fingers at the traitors in all the mainstream parties who have conspired against us to get us where we are (like, Dave really wanted a referendum).

General Zod

David Lindsay, this,

"The hysteria of the City-loving Tories' media allies is jaw-dropping from people who claim to believe in minimal government involvement in the economy "

is gibberish.

Percy

Mr Tony gave away our rebate for nothing and Pa Broon signed Lisbon without any fight, what would Mr Sarko need to come to London for?

David Lindsay

No, General Zod, it is fact.

But keep going. If the Tory slogan is going to be "Isn't The City Just Wonderful?", then bring it on.

Andy

I bet the Swiss are rubbing their hands with glee; no EU, no minarets and the prospect of lots of financial institutions relocating!

Anne Wotana Kaye

The City of London? Fah! We should call the bluff of those managers who threaten to leave if they don't receive obscenely huge bonuses. I think they if they do leave, they will find the jobs they thought they could walk into may not be so readily available, once the potential new bosses see that the managers didn't have such good bargaining power after all. Two important points: 1. It's much harder to get a job when you are walking out of another one, and 2. RBS, the S = Scottish!