Why are the French getting an 'MP for London'? - BBC News
French citizens in the UK will for the first time be able to vote for an MP, with the creation of a Northern Europe constituency in the French parliament. What role will London play?
London is home to the majority of the vibrant UK French population for whom the capital is not just a city of transit.
They will soon be represented by a new French MP for the recently established Northern Europe constituency comprising the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and the Baltic states.
It is difficult to measure the exact number of French people living in the British capital. Over 120,000 are officially registered at the French consulates in London and Edinburgh, but not everybody decides to register and other London estimates put the French population at anywhere between 300,000 and 400,000 citizens.
London could hold the key to victory for any candidate as it has the largest concentration of French people across the whole constituency.
"All of the main parties have chosen candidates based in London," says Philippe Marliere, professor of French and European politics at University College London.
"It's going to be a London contest."
Of the 20 official candidates for the seat, nine are based in London, and a further three live in other regions of the UK.
'Key issue'Although the French have long had a tradition of MPs from their overseas territories, this is the first time France will allow elected MPs for its expat population to have a seat in parliament.
The decision to create new constituencies for the French abroad was taken by former president Nicolas Sarkozy, whose government passed legislation in 2008 to give them the right to elect their own MPs.
Prof Marliere argues this can be seen a political move by the right to boost votes. Traditionally, the French abroad are less likely to support the left, even if the gap is narrowing in the UK.
Statistics from the French Ministry of the Interior show that the majority (53.05%) of overseas French citizens voted for right-wing candidate Mr Sarkozy in the 2012 presidential election.
But French people in the UK bucked this trend for the first time by voting for Socialist candidate Francois Hollande - though Mr Sarkozy won almost 52% of the second round vote in London.
Party politics aside, Prof Marliere says there are more and more French people living abroad. They can encounter problems with the education, pension, tax, social welfare and health systems in their host country, issues that an expat MP could help them with.
Candidates for Northern Europe constituency
- Axelle Lemaire, Socialist Party (London)
- Emmanuelle Savarit, UMP party (London)
- Yannick Naud, Democratic Movement (London)
- Will Mael Nyamat, independent (London)
- Olivier Bertin, Green Party (London)
- Olivier Cadic, Centrist Alliance (London)
- Denys Dhiver, supported by the Christian Democratic Party and France Ecologie (Leicester, UK)
- Gaspard Koenig, Liberal Democratic (London)
- Guy Le Guezennec, National Front (Kent, UK)
- Jerome de Lavenere Lussan, independent (London)
- Marie-Claire Sparrow, Gathering of French residents overseas (Essex, UK)
- Bertrand Larmoyer, independent liberal (London)
- Aberzack Boulariah, independent (Ireland)
- Olivier de Chazeaux, supported by the Radical Party, New Centre, and Republican, Ecologist and Social Alliance (Paris)
- Lucile Jamet, Left Front
- Patrick Kaboza, independent candidate (Riga, Latvia)
- Ezella Sahraoui, Radical Party of the Left (Lille, France)
- Christophe Schermesser, European Federalist Party (Finland)
- Edith Tixier, Solidarity and Progress party
- Anne-Marie Wolfson, independent (Paris)
This is reflected in the official manifestos of the candidates, which also mention the challenges faced by French people abroad in business.
But Prof Marliere says that the "key issue" for the UK-based candidates is education, as French families are keen to send their children to French schools.
Providing a French education for their children can be costly for parents and French-speaking schools are oversubscribed.
Because of this, the French embassy, teachers and parents have been working to deal with the shortage of places, opening a new school in Kentish Town, London, last September, says Frederique Brisset, headmistress of L'Ecole des Petits and L'Ecole de Battersea.
"The choice of French schools is limited and there are fundamental differences between the French curriculum and the British curriculum."
"French schools are not free," says Prof Marliere. "Although the French state subsidises education by sending French teachers, the rest is not paid for by the state."
This issue is not going away as within the UK, the make-up of the French community is changing. It is getting younger, and therefore more likely to have children.
In addition to those working in the financial sector and employed by international companies, the UK's French population now includes "students, people in the service industries, public servants and young families", says Prof Marliere.
French LondonersClelia-Elsa Froguel, a 26-year-old consultant born in France, is part of this younger generation.
She says the creation of an expat MP enables the voices of French emigrants to be heard in the French parliament.
"We are French Londoners, not expats," she says. "The election of an MP for us is extremely important."
While she can vote in the French presidential elections, up until now she did not vote in the French parliamentary elections because she felt she was "not represented."
And David Medioni, a political journalist based in Paris, points out that French people in France view it as "normal" that expats should have some political say.
'More and more British'But others are less than enthusiastic about the idea, arguing that the MP will have little impact as the French abroad are not the government's priority.
Prof Marliere says it is difficult to see how the French abroad can place demands on the government, as many do not pay taxes in France.
He asks: "Why would the government in France supplement our life choices?"
And Muriel Demarcus, a 39-year-old business owner, says the introduction of an expat French MP is unlikely to change anything.
"After four or five years you turn a corner and you become more and more British. I don't think we are French any more."
The successful candidate will sit in the French National Assembly in Paris and will have the same duties as any other French MP, representing a vast constituency stretching across 1.5m sq miles (4m sq km).
Prof Marliere expects that the elected representative will divide their time between the French capital and their home country, making frequent trips to other regions.
Although the figures are disputed, the London population has grown so big that it is sometimes referred to as France's sixth city. Because of this, French people in other European countries, such as 22-year-old Maite Delvarre from Stockholm, say that the views of non-UK based constituents won't be heard.
"The culture in the UK and the Nordic countries is not the same. That's why we need somebody else here."
Even for experts like Prof Marliere, the outcome of the election is difficult to predict.
"It's totally new. Nobody knows what is going to happen."
Registered French citizens in the Northern Europe constituency |
||
|---|---|---|
| Country | French Consulate* | Electoral List** |
|
*As of 31 December 2011, **As of 29 Feb 2012 |
||
|
Denmark |
5,214 |
3,450 |
|
Estonia |
182 |
126 |
|
Finland |
2,569 |
1,596 |
|
Ireland |
8,881 |
5,799 |
|
Iceland |
341 |
244 |
|
Latvia |
193 |
123 |
|
Lithuania |
379 |
215 |
|
Norway |
5,034 |
3,337 |
|
UK |
123,306 |
80,750 |
|
Sweden |
6,329 |
4,312 |
|
The actual number of French people living in these countries is estimated to be significantly higher. |
||
London Olympics: James Bond star Daniel Craig to abseil into stadium as part of opening ceremony - Daily Record
Live from the Jubilee River Thing - Daily Telegraph Blogs
A special day, but a familiar atmosphere
Standing in the rain at Vauxhall, wearing the traditional British summer gear of waterproof trousers and a cagoule. Thousands of Queen masks in evidence. When Her Majesty comes past that will presumably feel very strange, as though she's in her own version of Being John Malkovich.
Also: will she have to wear a waterproof poncho? Or a life jacket? Or are members of the Royal family exempt from health and safety legislation?
Atmosphere is the familiar one of grim English determination to have a good time in spite of all obstacles. Cold, rain, and an impenetrable wall of umbrellas between oneself and the thing one is trying to see will not get in the way.
Shall stop now before my iPhone shorts out in the damp. More updates when Her Damp Britannic Majesty approaches.
…
Rumours of boats sighted at Vauxhall turned out to be a police dinghy. Crowd's halfhearted effort to go wild is stillborn. Slightly more enthusiastic response for an RNLI lifeboat.
People down here on the ground getting resentful of the people in the tower blocks, who presumably have not been standing for five hours and can occasionally go and get a cup of tea.
The woman swigging amaretto has drained her bottle. Whether she can keep it down remains to be seen…
Oh here they are. A somewhat ugly tug is pushing a barge full of bellringers, then the rest turn up in earnest. Woo hoo etc. Lots and lots of rowing boats in the colours of the commonwealth countries. Rather lovely really.
The ultimate street party! ONE MILLION Jubilee spectators line the banks of the Thames to celebrate with her Majesty as she passes on Royal barge - Daily Mail
- Transport for London tells visitors to find somewhere else as they announce flotilla viewing platforms are FULL
- Travel chaos as trains and tubes fill up and operators are criticised for services
- 6,000 police officers on the street mean only three minor arrests are made
|
The threat of rain didn't dampen the Jubilee celebrations on the banks of the Thames today, as one million people turned out on the streets of London to enjoy the 1,000-boat Royal flotilla.
Pageant organisers said despite the weather, the huge crowds they had prepared for had turned up to revel in proceedings.
However, the enormous numbers of visitors created chaos on tubes and trains, with packed carriages meaning passengers were unable to board.
Transport for London warned people not to try and watch the flotilla from the already packed viewing platforms. 'The Diamond Jubilee Pageant viewing areas are now full; please avoid and find an alternative location from which to view the event,' TfL said.
Scroll down for video highlights
Millions on the street: Crowds turned out in full force today despite the weather to watch the Queen pass on the Royal barge on the Thames today
Rain or shine: Grey skies over St Paul's Cathedral and the Thames couldn't dampen the party spirit for Kate Thorton, 25, of Kentish Town, London
What a view: Every available space available was used to catch a glimpse of the pageant. Transport for London said all viewing areas were full
Her Majesty waves to adoring crowds as she sets sail from Chelsea Harbour with Prince Philip onboard the Spirit Of Chartwell
TfL said that they were 'coping' with the hundreds of thousands using transport links close to the river, and that they were running extra trains to cope with demand, but that they had had to divert several bus routes due to the pageant.
Overground train operators also came under fire for apparently failing to lay on extra trains.
Travellers took to Twitter to express their frustration at the services, some saying that travel operators appeared to be laying on a regular Sunday service.
One user, Emma Bradley tweeted: 'SW Trains really should have thought this through. Children literally crying cos can't get on the train at Norbiton, New Malden etc.'
Jeremy Bellamy, a Conservative councillor from Canterbury, wrote: 'Amazed that South Eastern trains seem to have been taken by surprise by the Jubilee weekend.'
But despite frustration for some revellers, most remained upbeat and determined to catch a glimpse of the spectacle on the Thames.
Among them were friends Sarankumar Chandrasekar, 22, and Suhail Vilangil, 25, who said they were proud to see London's 'greatest moment' after moving to the UK from India two years ago.
Mr Chandrasekar, who now lives in Stratford, east London, said: 'This is the greatest moment for London so it's not something you can miss.
'It's a proud moment for us to be here and see the Queen from only 50 metres away.'
Mr Vilangil added: 'We wouldn't let a small thing like rain put us off. There are so many people here who have been so friendly.'
Semera Khan, from Sutton, south west London, said it was clear which member of the Royal Family received the best reception from the crowd.
Britannia's shield: Two women on the Embankment take cover behind a huge, flag-patterned umbrella. Right, Will Marcombe and Abi Murray arrive from Bristol in full patriotic get-up this morning after queueing for several hours
Revelry: The banks of the Thames were completely packed and resulted in travel chaos at Tube stations near to the river
Don't you have a boat to catch? Two friends on the riverbanks dressed up as the Queen (complete with toy corgi) and a particularly inventive take on 'coronation chicken'
Crowds fill up on the south bank of the Thames at the National Theatre to prepare for Her Majesty's arrival
Location: Revellers crowd into flats on the south of the river, decked out in Union flags and releasing red, white and blue balloons as they enjoy the Jubilee celebrations
Ms Khan said: 'The Queen got the biggest cheer. It was brilliant to be here with such an excellent view. It's not going to happen again in my lifetime so I didn't want to miss out.'
By the time the last boats passed under Tower Bridge, only a handful of people remained to watch.
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They included Jenny Houghton, who works for the City of London Corporation and husband Neil, as well as her mother June Cornish.
'I just think it's a brilliant opportunity to come and see it, and even though it's pouring with rain, it's something you'll never see again,' Mrs Houghton said.
'We came down here to see the pageant so we wanted to see all of it.
'Besides, we're the great British public and that's what we do!'
Up to 6,000 officers from the Metropolitan Police were overseeing proceedings, and the events proceeded with little trouble. Only three minor arrests have been made, according to a Metropolitan Police spokesman.
It wasn't just in London that the celebrations took place. Residents at the UK's longest Jubilee street party - which straddled two counties - carried on despite the rain, on the border of Oxfordshire and Berkshire.
The kilometre-long party saw more than 3,700 guests and 465 trestle tables span the two towns' high streets and the bridge crossing the Thames.
Red, white and blue ponchos were the order of the day, with the streets transformed into a sea of umbrellas as the heavens opened just as the party got under way.
Sigyta Hart, 60, an acupuncturist who has lived in Goring for 23 years, said: 'It's been astonishing. Everyone's ignored the rain, even though it's on our plates and in our Champagne.'
Elegant: Her Majesty, accompanied by Duchess of Cornwall Camilla, waves to crowds on the packed banks of the river from the Royal barge
Bow-wow tie: Left, a dog in central London dresses for the occasion and, right, a girl is lifted high above the crowds gathered by the Thames
Crowds gather on Westminster and Lambeth bridges and on the balconies behind for a glimpse of the Queen aboard the Royal barge
Crowds by Waterloo Bridge create a sea of waving flags under trees and lampposts strung with bunting
Boys in red, white and blue: Five friends in full union jack fancy dress get ready for the spectacle on the Thames
Bunting and nautical flags criss-cross the frame as Londoners look out to the Thames near Tower Bridge
Raindrops glisten on a man's union flag hat as he looks towards St Paul's Cathedral, while Katie Hayes from Guildford shows off the design on her sequined dress
Homemade banners add a personal touch from these Londoners, with the inclusion of Prince Philip's initials showing he wasn't forgotten on the Queen's special day
Irrepressible: Three-year-old Leilah Palmer doesn't let the bad weather spoil her fun at the Jubilee Family Festival in Hyde Park, London, while on the banks of the Thames (right) the ubiquitous red, white and blue make up the layers of a woman's wig
Balconies covered in flags were a prime viewing platform for the event. TfL warned visitors that they should stay away from the official viewing platforms
A rooftop in Battersea gave these spectators the perfect vantage point from which to watch the pageant
Balconies at Butlers Wharf, near Tower Bridge, provided an unbeatable view of the pageant
Draped in bunting, this woman near Tower Bridge wears a T-shirt with a tongue-in-cheek message for the Queen. And, right, seating space was in short supply near Blackfriars Bridge, forcing this pair to perch on a roadside railing as they huddle under an umbrella
Thousands could not see the Thames or The Queen and instead had to rely on giant TV monitors near Tower Bridge
David Cameron looks like he's struggling to get a word in as he hosts scouts for a Jubilee tea party at 10 Downing Street
The red, white and blue even helped these two keep their feet dry near Tower Bridge
Delighted Daily Mail competition winners take part in the Royal Pageant on board the Yarmouth Belle
Twins Becky (right) and Sam Perry were among the Daily Mail competition winners cruising down the river on the Yarmouth Belle
A reveller on the riverbank wears the nation's colours on her face, while in Marple Bridge, Greater Manchester, it wouldn't be a Jubilee party without a glass of bubbly
Three corgis wearing rosettes line up in front of a brass band at The Savoy hotel's grand Jubilee party
Plastic ponchos keep the rain off and spirits stay high as these three enjoy a picnic on Millbank, London
Three young revellers on the banks of the Thames brace themselves against the dismal weather with hot drinks and waterproofs
Going to great lengths for a peek over the hoarding as the Royal Pageant passes Blackfriars Bridge
A homeless person lies on a bed of cardboard decorated with union flags in central London
It wasn't just in London that people took part in celebrations. The residents of Streatley and Goring in Oxfordshire sat down to the UK's longest street party - almost a kilometre long - in the rain earlier today
A line of tables stretched for 3,218ft between the two villages over River Thames on the Goring and Streatley Bridge, where an estimated 3,640 people sat down to lunch
Covering up: Residents of Alcester in Warwickshire kick off a two-day Jubilee extravaganza, including a parade and live music
Jubilee spirit spreads to Ightham, Kent, where Morris dancers perform at the village's medieval Coxcombe Fair
Neighbours cheer and raise their glasses at a street party in Murrayfield Avenue, Edinburgh
Home from home: They may be thousands of miles from the festivities on the Thames, but these children of British expatriates marked the occasion with an elephant ride at the British High Commission in New Delhi, India
Face painting and candy floss make for a great day out for these children at the British High Commission in New Delhi
A young boy plays with a flag in the garden of the British Embassy during a Jubilee celebration for Britons in Paris
London Symphony Orchestra miming at London Olympics Opening Ceremony - Examiner
Slideshow: Lady Gaga made Twitter history with 25 million followers.
See 50 pics of Mother Monster
London 2012: Rebecca Adlington receives abusive message on Twitter - The Guardian
Rebecca Adlington has been receiving abusive messages on Twitter after revealing "nasty comments" meant the double Olympic champion would be using it sparingly during London 2012.
The 23-year-old was catapulted into the public eye after her triumphs in the 400 metres and 800m freestyle in Beijing, with the Mansfield-born swimmer feted on her return to Great Britain.
However, not everybody was so pleased – something she discovered the painful way. Now she does not read on-line interviews she has given and neither will she be using Twitter as much during the London Olympic Games.
On Sunday Adlington pasted a message that has been sent to her on Twitter, prefacing it with: "I had a perfect example of what has been said in the papers this week tweeted to me this morning. I apologise for the swearing when I RT it!"
She then posted: "How lovely is this person…" before retweeting a message to her which read: "@BeckAdlington you shark fin nosed d*******, you belong in that pool you f****** whale."
Adlington quickly received support from many of her Great Britain team‑mates. The former world 100m freestyle silver medallist Fran Halsall tweeted: "what a small insignificant life that person must lead", echoed by the former double Commonwealth champion Caitlin McClatchey, who wrote: "his parents must be so proud to have raised such a pathetic idiot! Well done for ur amazing 800 hun BOOM! Good luck today xx"
The Olympic open water bronze medallist Cassie Patten addressed the perpetrator directly, saying: "It must be hard for you, you obviously have achieved nothing in your life, as you feel the need to Insult @BeckAdlington."
It all follows the revelation by Adlington to a number of reporters that she has been subject to abuse on Twitter as well as negative comments online. She had said: "I love the block button on Twitter. I don't know how people expect to send a nasty comment and not get blocked.
"With Twitter I think it's one of those things if you like it like Liam [Tancock] who is on it every two minutes – 'just having my lunch, just doing this' – he loves it, he is like that in real life. Whereas I am on Twitter every now and again, I tweet here and there but not every day all the time.
"I think I will be going on every now and again but I won't be checking it.
"I want to stay focused – obviously the messages of support are absolutely amazing and I love reading all of those but you have got the chance of somebody saying something just to annoy you and you don't want that added stress. For myself, I think I'll tweet once it's over."
She added: "I used to [read articles] when it first happened but I am one of those people who then scroll down to the bottom and read the comments and I learned very quickly not to do that. Because it is awful and I get angry: even if there are 10 nice comments you always get one idiot.
"It makes you angry and frustrated. I've now given up because it upsets me or makes me angry."
London 2012: Mo Farah impresses at Diamond League in Eugene - The Sport Review
Mo Farah may be undecided about whether he will look to secure a world and Olympic double over 5,000m – but his current form is certainly encouraging.
Farah says his London 2012 focus is trained firmly on the 10,000m, with heats of the 5,000m following several days later on the Games schedule.
However, he clocked a world-leading and meeting record 12:56.98 to win over the distance at the IAAF Diamond League in Eugene.
Farah, who won the Bupa 10,000 in London last weekend, kicked clear of Kenya’s Isaiah Koech and American training partner Galen Rupp to claim victory.
Elsewhere, Shara Proctor produced a personal best 6.84 metre leap to win the women’s long jump.
Anguillan-born Proctor, who won her first senior medal for Britain with a bronze at the World Indoors, is now just six centimetres short of Bev Finch’s 29-year old British record, set at the first-ever World Championships in Helsinki.
While British rising stars Lawrence Clarke and Andy Pozzi are impressing over 110m hurdles this season, world bronze medallist Andy Turner is still struggling.
Turner, who has admitted his Olympic dream may be shattered by an untimely recurrence of a tendon injury, finished last in Eugene in 13.46 seconds.
© Sportsbeat 2012
Jubilee spirits not dampened by rain: River pageant Queen fans shrug off wet weather ahead of 1,000 boat flotilla - Daily Mirror
Diamond Jubilee river pageant spectators have shrugged off the cold, damp and wet conditions that have shrouded London.
The gloomy weather is in contrast to the recent heatwave but the river banks in central London are already filling up with crowds.
Organisers remain upbeat despite rain and drizzle being forecast for most of the day, with Pageant Master Adrian Evans declaring preparations were in hand.
Mr Evans said: "There is some rain around, but it has not dampened any spirits.
"We in Britain are experts at not letting the weather spoil our fun. The London Philharmonic Orchestra will be playing Singing In The Rain as they travel down the river, and the crowd can sing along with them.
"We are all set to have one of the most spectacular pieces of river theatre that London, and the world, has ever seen. Excitement is building, and everything is ready."
The water-borne extravaganza will be one of the highlights of the four-day Diamond Jubilee weekend with organisers hoping to recreate scenes not seen since the reign of Charles II.
With the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh onboard the lavishly decorated royal barge will be the Prince of Wales, the pageant's patron, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
Every conceivable vessel will be afloat on the Thames from kayaks, skiffs, Dunkirk little ships and dragon boats to tugs, barges, rowed shallops and passenger vessels.
At its head will be a floating belfry with each bell named after a senior member of the Royal Family.
People have been gathering along the seven-mile course of the river pageant since first thing, with a few hardy souls sleeping overnight to get a good spot.
Many of those were wrapped up against the cold weather but looking forward to the spectacle.
Karen Chen, 32 and David Ip, 31, from Streatham, south London, said the rain had not put them off coming to the river early to get a prime spot.
"We got here just after 7.30, it would have been earlier if we thought we would have more competition.
"The rain actually works to our advantage," Ms Chen said.
The pair have bagged a prime spot on a bench next to Battersea Bridge and said they were ready for the long-haul.
"We are wrapped up warmly and have waterproof sheets to shelter under. We have got a picnic of marmalade and cheese and pickle sandwiches and Mr Kipling cakes," Mr Ip added.
"Today is a spectacular event, nothing would have stopped us from coming to see the boats. We are so excited about all the variety. It will only happen once in our lifetime and we will be here until the very end," Ms Chen said.
Matt Dobson, senior meteorologist at MeteoGroup, said: "For the all important Jubilee Thames Pageant today, the skies will be mostly cloudy with occasional rain and drizzle. However, don't be surprised if the clouds do thin and break from time to time and a few welcome rays of sunshine may even break through.
"A chilly day in London with temperatures of 12C or 13C, potentially rising to 14C or 15C if it brightens up."
Dafydd Richards, 35, and Felicity Anderson, 30, from New Zealand, arrived at Tower Bridge almost six hours before the boats were due to pass by and said they were used to braving the elements.
Felicity, who now lives in Wimbledon, south-west London, said: "We wanted to make sure we had a good spot because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"We've brought a very British picnic with scones and shortbread and we'll toast the Queen when she sails past with some Champagne."
Meanwhile, mother and daughter Christine Steele, 57, and Jemma, 29, said the prospect of bad weather had not stopped them travelling from Maidstone in Kent.
Huddled under blankets and umbrellas on a bench near Battersea Bridge, Mrs Steele said: "It's England, we are used to this. It would have been wonderful if it had been sunny like last Sunday but we have come prepared.
"We have got blankets, brollies, flags and bunting. We even got our glittery Union Jack hats and wigs and the Champagne is on ice.
"You name it, we've got it in our picnic.
Mrs Steele's husband Graham, also 57, said he had sent a friend off to try to buy a gazebo for them to shelter under.
"If we get one we will make a lot of new friends, especially ones in uniform," he said.
Mrs Steele added: "This is a once in a lifetime experience and it is good for the country to celebrate together, we would not have missed it."
This really is wrong...what has the queen ever done for us? our taxes are paying for this!
- amy, london, 03/6/2012 19:57
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