How Bush has perverted Britain's Labour view of Europe - by Martin Kettle
"Ségolène Royal's election as the Socialist party's presidential candidate this week is an event of immense importance for French politics and for the European left. Apart from anything else, it was the first time that the French left's main candidate has been chosen by one-member-one-vote and - guess what? - the members overwhelmingly chose the candidate they felt was most likely to win against the right.
As Labour members proved in 1994, and the Conservatives in 2005, a democratic leadership election is the best possible way of proving that a party is in radio contact with the real world.
Ten days ago the political class devoured every available detail about the American elections. Thousands of words were expended examining the implications for the 2008 presidential race and on assessing the impact on British interests.As a participant, I have absolutely no problem with that. Yet, for all its power, America remains in many respects a faraway country of which we know less than we think.
France, by contrast, remains a potent nearby country of which we know more than we imagine. And unless we can muster something approaching the same degree of serious attention to the hugely significant French presidential contest of 2007, all that coverage from Missouri and Montana is going to look politically escapist and even somewhat delusional.
Comment EU-Digest: For all of us on the other side of the channel this article by Martin Kettle in the Guardian should be another signal to take a serious look at the British membership in the EU. Why would we want hypocritical obstructionist partners like the British in the EU, who look down on us and criticize us insensately, but can't do without vacationing on our warm beaches, our foods and wine, who buy our homes and invest here. As the Americans would say. "With friends like this who needs any enemies."
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