It goes without saying that we really do try to ignore what is goes on in France, pretty much in the same way as France is unstinting in its efforts to ignore what is going on in a globalized marketplace. It is only when they try to impose their latest raft of eco-nonsense that we frankly we have cause to cast a skeptical eye across the Channel & then marvel at our luck at being physically separated from the rest of continental Europe – despite the unstinting & strenuous efforts that the Westminster village makes to sell us down the river to Brussels & Strasbourg. As the old adage goes …

The British refer to the rest of Europe pityingly as the continent. They go there to observe, to trade & occasionally fight the French.

When it comes to the Gallic mire that comprises French politics, we have even more reason to be suspicious given their propensity to produce big government socialists, Euro federalists & lets not forget, a rich seam of Nazi sympathizers. The prospect of the French presidential elections in May hold no real excitement, the candidate lists normally comprising faceless euro-rats & Monsieur Le Pen (one of the aforementioned Nazi sympathizers). Mind you its always worth hoping that Le Pen gets a few votes as it gets the Liberal Left rioting on the streets of Paris in pretty short order, which makes a pleasant change from the norm: weekly Muslim riots

Still last night the French UMP party, (often referred as being centre right in orientation … but that is in France remember, so they are a bunch of big government euro-centric socialists by any normal measure of political alignment) have elected Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy as their candidate for the forthcoming presidential polls.