• Comment: The City has nothing to fear from President Sarkozy
• Boris: Sarkozy's attack is best way to boost City
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@ Mordwinoff, Lisle France

You have hit it on the head and I've said it before. We English have a sense of just and fair play, thus we play by the rules. The French cheat, just ask the Irish. So we foolishly adhere to all the directives that come out of Brussels.

That is why we need to leave the EU and rid ourselves of the thieving corrupt EU political class. The thought that we are being influenced in this country by the likes of Bulgarian politicians who are simply the Mafia, sends a shudder down my spine.

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 04/12/2009 12:03
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"These infantile anti-french comments are pathetic." True, I suppose, but a bit harsh. They are, afterall, therapeutic. Europe is out of control, the UK is in a shambles, and we are all scared that the sacrifice of past generations has been in vain if we are, in effect, taken over through this Treaty. Europe is ok as a holiday destination, but not for much more than that. Sarkozy impresses no-one. Who cares if he visits? He's a waste of space.

- Peace Maker, Battersea, 04/12/2009 11:28
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This is the only, and I mean only, thing that Gordon Brown has done right since he became Prime Minister. Of course if he hadn't ratified the Lisbon treaty without the referendum his party promised us all then he wouldn't be having a problem now with the French, so he has brought it on himself ultimately.

- Matthew, London, UK, 04/12/2009 02:05
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Gordon should be charged for being incompetant at the wheel of UK-PLC. How did he and his band of muppets allow it to get to this? Get these money grubbing bunch of half-wits out the door and see if Dave can get the country back on the straight and narrow. Its an embarasment

- Gavin, Sydney, 04/12/2009 00:26
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I am pro EU but very concerned. A French EU Commissioner will promote French interests, which he will argue are EU interests. We saw this CAP reform when we gave up part of rebate to help the EU budget crisis and got nothing in return. The FCO need to stand up for British interest in Europe, while being European.

- Andrew, Notting Hill, London, 03/12/2009 23:13
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Wasn't it decent of us to change the main Channel Tunnel terminus from Waterloo to St Pancras?

- Richard, London, 03/12/2009 21:00
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Brown & Co doesn't seem to have the power in their own country to restrict millions worth of bonuses to bankers who brought the city into today's mess and who got bailed out with tax-payers money that seems now to be transferred directly into their salary accounts. So why complaining that much and being so negative on Europe? There is a lot of good stuff in Europe a lot if people here would really appreciate as more regulations are often in favor of consumers – for you! In the UK, for example, companies sell to you two year product guarantees just to cash in on something what is already common law in Europe (you get two years guarantee when buying products). If Brown & Co aren't able to clean up this mess and regulate more properly (only you will benefit from it, if you are not a million pound banker), why not being more happy and more thankful that the EU at least is trying to do this job for you...

- Mike, Germany/UK, 03/12/2009 20:46
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Mr. Sarkozy is at least popularly elected and not an economic fool, like what we have here in Britain. So he would have been welcome, but Bruun thought he would be a diplomat by being silly with the stronger economic partners he needs now. Britain is in dire straits and we should not push away people who are helping us out of our economic slump, even if "they are French". France seems to have managed the crisis unlike Crash Gordon and Silly Derling.

- Georgie, Islington, London, 03/12/2009 20:34
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These infantile anti-french comments are pathetic.
If all the moaners form a gigantic monthly demonstrations in Trafalgar square, shouting for a referendum then maybe - just maybe the politicians will start to take notice.
There are still European countries who are not members of the EU and survive perfectly well.
A referendum to get out would be perfecly legal ; there is a legal get-out clause even now.
Then we could claim back our fishing rights.
The crap about EU being our biggest export partner works , of course, both ways.
Most of the goods that we buy seem to be made in China anyway.
Cameron would eliminate the labour party if he said that he would give the British people a say in their future.
However, the way forward would then be very hard a nd require a lot of courage which our rulers just don't have.

- Sally70, Bedford, England, 03/12/2009 20:03
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Fancy that Gordon telling this french frog to hop it!!!

- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 03/12/2009 18:27
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This awful man took us into the Eu with only a third of this country voting for him and his awful party......
That cannot be right.........Why are we standing for this........The majority had no say........What an awful man that is the PM of this country......Mind you he is unelected isn't he.........

- M, United Kingdom, 03/12/2009 18:23
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the french? they are the cuckoo in the EU nest, good for Brown to have not met the french president! beware of the french

- Peter Kavanagh, dublin, ireland, 03/12/2009 18:06
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How sad ! The english working class backing up those so cute bankers after having footed the bill for them!!

- Naughtyfrog, Aubusson France, 03/12/2009 17:29
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Fred from London
"Britain was founded by the French"
A tad incorrect I am afraid!.
Now Fred try and concentrate!
England not Britain was invaded by William of Normandy not France then a much smaller state centred around Paris then known as the Ile de France.
Normandy was the home of the Norsemen,Viking invaders who became and carved out a massive Duchy and spoke a version of the "oil" language a Romance language with a disticnt dialect called and known as Norman.
To call the Normans French is akin to calling a Scotsman English and you know what the response would be!

- Majorie, Basingstoke United Kingdom, 03/12/2009 17:06
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We were not dragged against our will into the EU, we voted for it... the dastardly bit was that the EU changed from a trade agreement to a political leviathan after we joined. And if I could just point out to Fred that we were actually here well before 1066!

- Paul, London, 03/12/2009 16:55
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Roz, to answer your questions on UKIP:

They are opposed to the ID card scheme and the ID card database and would scrap both;
They want to institute a tight limit on permanent migration after a 5-year freeze to allow the backlog of requests to be dealt with;
They want to limit the power of Whitehall to dictate to local councils and want to make schools and hospitals independent of government dictat;
They want to raise the threshold at which you start paying tax to £11,000 - the minimum wage - which will mean that the lowest earners will pay no income tax at all.
They support global free trade;

- Russell Long, Tonbridge, Kent, 03/12/2009 16:50
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Au contraire. It was Sarkozy who snubbed Brown by refusing to visit and offer his apologies.

Never trust the French.

- Chuck Unsworth, London, 03/12/2009 16:45
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Sarko is regarded as a cocky little twerp here and a figure of fun. The trouble with you Anglo Saxons is that you conform to all the ridiculous rules laid down by Brussels. We do NOT only obeying the sensible ones when we feel like it!!
Downing St are being childish,Brown would not do the same to Obama. Much better to have let Sarko come. He might have come to apologise

- Mordwinoff, Lisle France, 03/12/2009 16:30
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Nigel, if we had not been dragged against our will into the EU, and if we had remained indepenent like Switzerland and Norway, it would have been the EU against London, Zurich, Hong Kong and Singapore. With English as our language we would always have remained the key European hub whether we were in or out. But thanks to this lying bunch of incompetents, Blair and Brown we have been sold down the river. That is why most of us either have to put up, or shut up and emigrate.
As Roz did - to a campsite in Cajarc if I am right??!!

- Mikey, Guildford, 03/12/2009 16:20
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Nicolas Sarkozy was snubbed by GB because the French cheated their way in to the World Cup!!!

- Mark, Walworth, 03/12/2009 16:11
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Chris M, morbihan,france
exactly , they dont know what hard work is . they all do a 30 hour week, and if they are ever asked to work harder , the whole country goes on strike , and burn sheep.

- Clive, london, 03/12/2009 15:53
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Gordon and Sarkozy? To mis-quote Oscar Wilde; 'The unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable.'

- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK, 03/12/2009 15:42
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We'd better get used to doing as we're told, as we are no longer a nation state with our own government. We have been sold out by the spinless lickspittles known as "politicians".

- Neil, People'S Republic Of Europe (Formerly England), London UK, 03/12/2009 15:32
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All French are cowards we and the Americans liberated them in two world wars they just gave up. Sarko will not send any of his troops to Afghanistan with other Nato troops and it is for Frances benefit as anyone elses. they want a European army can you imagine the British and little else doing their fighting for them. I bet he dare not come here I would be on the front row and throw eggs at him and anyone else from the EU my father grandfather and thousands of others fought to keep this country independant and what has this scottish mafia done given it all to the people that started two world wars. The EU does not like England neighter does Scotland they have all set out to destroy England whyelse is it that we cannot call ourselves English it has to be British think about it all our traditions are being taken away on pretext of health and safety so come on everyone fight against it all as our parents and grandparents did our backs are against the wall now lets get the blitz spritit and tell these people including Brown and the socttish mafia where to get off threaten to pull out of the EU we hold that trump card sarko is gloating England will be a giant housing estate while all manufacturing is done in France Germany you see

- Jacqui Williams, peterborough cambs, 03/12/2009 15:31
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Roz France

The reason the French didn't get involved in the Iraq war is because they had a cosy big number with Russsia in flouting the oil for food agreement making business people and politicians in both countries plus Saddam a large amount of cash.French(and Russian) politicians are the most duplicious and untrustworthy in the world.

- Mt, London, 03/12/2009 15:11
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Given a choice between the two I know who I'd rather have running the country. He may have his detractors at home, but at least Sarko seems to dig in and fight for his people. Meanwhile we're saddled with this imbecile who's got us into the worst mess imaginable, has no obvious plan to get us out of it and is constantly falling over himself to give away any rights for Britain to self-govern or self-regulate. He and his party have been the biggest catatrophe to hit our land since the plague. It astonishes me how anyone can even begin to consider voting for them at the next election.

- East, London, 03/12/2009 15:06
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Roz, I'd be very happy to have our baning sector better regulated. However I would prefer those powers were not in the hands of a foreign economic competitor. It is the equivalent of putting Rupert Murdoch in charge of regulating the BBC.

By the way you could always try looking at UKIP's website under policies if you want to know what they stand for. But to help you out, the only party that appears to support ID cards and DNA databases is the one we're currently lumbered with.

- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 03/12/2009 15:05
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Brown pretending to stand up to the EU.
Election due.

- Convenient Truth, Reading, 03/12/2009 14:42
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If I have a problem with someone,I face them and hammer it out,I do not play children's games,especially if I am the Prime Minister of Britain.

- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy, 03/12/2009 14:19
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".. the French refused to get involved in the illegal war in Iraq .."
- Roz, France

Roz, there was nothing noble about the frogs actions over Iraq. Like the Russians they had billions to lose if Hussain and his regime fell. Both countries were desperately trying to claw back their money before anything kicked of. Besides which there were certain nations breaking UN sanctions and dealing with Hussain illegally. Have a look at the UN voting divisions over Iraq to find out whom.

This is part of a wider issue and that is the resentment at being governed by corrupt unaccountable, unelected European politicians. It is the resentment at having had our democratic rights trodden on by a profoundly inept socialist government.

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 03/12/2009 14:14
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Keep this guy out of our country . He is not welcome. Don't forget we saved his country in WW 2 and let him not to forget about it.

- Jo, london.uk, 03/12/2009 14:12
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Britain was founded by the French, You Nuts...(1066)

- Fred, London, 03/12/2009 13:39
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I hope that somehow, the French and the EU can be shown that it isn't London versus Paris in the 21st century. It's London versus Zurich, New York, Hong Kong.... It is not in their interest any more than ours, to attach shackles to London that will just drive financial businesses out of the EU. They should be un-shackling Paris instead.

On a larger stage, the EU should negotiate internationally to put essential financial regulation on a global basis.

- Nigel, London, 03/12/2009 13:23
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Fair play to Sarkozy, with the financial mess this country's in I would rather have a French Commissioner than an Engligh one, probably more trustworthy too if thats possible for anyone working in the financial sector.

- Dc, London, 03/12/2009 13:17
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Phil Jones: what ARE UKIP's policies, exactly? I know UKIP doesn't like immigrants or the EU (despite the fact the only place they have elected candidates is the European Parliament). I don't know how in real terms they propose to get rid of illegal immigrants, or withdraw from legally binding agreements previous Governments may have saddled them with, but more importantly I don't know where UKIP stands on ID cards and Government databases, how it proposes to improve state healthcare and education, and how it will sort out the huge national debt and pensions crisis. What's worse, I don't know any of this even though I'm related to a UKIP parliamentary candidate, who doesn't appear to know either!

- Roz, France, 03/12/2009 12:59
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We better get used to being dominated time and again on issues such as this. Self-government is gone. The U.K. is now one of 27 provinces in a bigger country. No use whining and whinging. Consider that those who don't like outside domination in the U.K. are equivalent to Californians saying they don't like a new Washington D.C. income tax ruling. That and £1.50 gets you a cup of coffee (if you're lucky). It's over. The U.K. fought for centuries to maintain its self-government and sovereignty, just to have it drained away by both Labour and Conservatives over 40 years. The E.U. Constitution (Lisbon 'Treaty' -- it's not really a 'treaty') was the final act in making the U.K. part of a larger country, and you didn't get any say in it. Wisen up and vote for the party that wants to restore the U.K. to country status -- vote U.K.I.P. That's the way to get back at the Labour and Conservative elites for their treachery in giving away your birthright, and turning you from Brits to 'Europs'. And please don't keep calling the U.K. a country -- a part of a country is not itself a country!!!!

In the spring or summer of 2010 vote U.K.I.P. to return the U.K. to country status - OR vote Labour/Conservative to maintain the provincial status quo.

- Phil Jones, London EU, 03/12/2009 12:40
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The fear is nonsence.Don't know why these city financiers fear France now becoming 'the' financial centre. France would have to learn to speak the international business language first , English.And they will never do so because of their chauvinism.

- Chris M, morbihan,france, 03/12/2009 12:30
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Down with Gordon Brown. Vive La Belle France!

- Maggie, Richmond, UK, 03/12/2009 12:24
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Excellent!

- Jacqui Smith'S Dvd Collection!, Hackney, London, 03/12/2009 12:20
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You can't really blame him, the last Frenchman of "diminished stature" who tried to come over here for a row had a bit of a problem at Waterloo and had to go home again.

- Bob, Cheam, 03/12/2009 12:15
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"...criticised for damaging the EU by throwing into doubt the impartiality of EU commissioners"

Sarkozy can be rightly criticised for MANY things, but we shouldn't criticise him for telling the TRUTH. nobody in their right mind sees any aspect of the EU as "impartial". Germany & France see the EU as their own particular domain.

- Malcolm, London, 03/12/2009 11:59
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I'm a bit confused - aside from the fact that Sarko certainly isn't popular either at home or abroad (but then you've had a decade of Tony Blair being popularist and look what happened) - doesn't Britain want to regulate it's banking sector? Is it really just fine as it is?

And although I often deploy the 'Cheese-eating surrender monkeys' quote from George Bush to tease, you have to remember that it was made because the French refused to get involved in the illegal war in Iraq for non-existent weapons of mass destruction - they've chipped in to the worthier cause of Afghanistan - is everyone really happy with Britain's involvement in that?

It isn't easy to hear critique from abroad - as people on here regularly tell me! - but that doesn't mean its not worthy of consideration.

- Roz, France, 03/12/2009 11:53
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Crying all the way to the bank? Too many French onions?
Perhaps the city boys can start a boycott of champagne and Petrus to really hit back at those dastardly French!
The City has only itself to blame.
Time for the UK to start producing more physical goods like the Germans and French, instead of "banking services" the City boys themselves don't understand.

- Leslie M, Västerås Sweden, 03/12/2009 11:45
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The French are not in a recession now. The Germans are not in a recession now in fact most of Europe has pulled out of a recession. The Americans have ,the Japanese have too, so what exactly has the French President got to learn from our city boys by coming over here, and why should we be even listening to the con merchants and shysters of the city of London

- Mr S.Port, London, 03/12/2009 11:35
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Why should the City have a 30% power advantage simply because "one of us" is in charge? This is an unsustainable business model and the sooner we let it go and get over it the better.

- Bloke, Lambeth, 03/12/2009 11:25
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With respect to the Sun (Up yours Delours) Farkozy Sarkozy

- Bj, East London, 03/12/2009 11:24
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I think the French word for coward is 'lâche'!

- Goggs, London, 03/12/2009 11:03
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Well everyone has been clamouring to rein in the city "wide" boys. The UK government as usual dosn't have the stomach for a fight with their friends in the city, but the French and other Europeans will have no problem in dealing with them.

- Mark H, London England, 03/12/2009 11:02
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well thanks to Gordon, we are in this mess now
and were is the referendum you promissed us
this would have never ever happened, as the British public would have voted NO to this treaty

- Michael, Cheshunt, 03/12/2009 10:57
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Wise move Sarko. Not the Nations favourite Frenchman. Not the flavour of the month. Send Carla.

- Dhan Raj, Basildon, 03/12/2009 10:34
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No great loss.

I think that the English have a traditional response to the French that dates from Agincourt.

Find somebody from France today and express your feelings about the cheese eating, surrender monkey Sarkozy.

- James, City of London, 03/12/2009 10:23
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On your bicyclette, Sarko! And big thanks to Gordon for getting us into this mess with a quick squiggle of his pen on the Lisbon Treaty. I don't suppose he managed to spell that wrong to give us a legal loophole way out?

- Paul, London, 03/12/2009 09:58
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