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SARKOZY DEFENDS FRENCH IDENTITY AS BLAIR LOOMS OVER EU

NARROW VIEW: Islam and France clash

Sunday November 1,2009

THERE is a lot of intense activity going on in the European Union at the moment. The usual demands that we send more money are par for the course (they are now demanding an extra £5million from us every day) but the bare-knuckle fighting for jobs that don’t even exist yet is new.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband appears to be acting as former prime minister Tony Blair’s campaign manager, claiming he should become Europe’s first President because he is the only man who would stop the traffic in foreign capitals. German MEP Jorgo Chatzimarkakis immediately rained on Mr Miliband’s parade by pointing out that any President of the European Union would produce the same reaction.

There’s nothing unusual about EU members squabbling but what I find interesting is that France is putting forward a different agenda.

Fanatical Europhile federalist politicians have always insisted that we must abandon patriotic pride. Those of us who admire what they describe as that outdated idea are dismissed as Little Englanders. Loyalty to Europe must transcend all else. Fortunately, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the son of a Hungarian immigrant, sees things our way. President Sarkozy believes the French are not patriotic enough.

Last week, the French government announced that it plans to launch a campaign to “reaffirm the values of national identity and the pride of being French”. The programme will include civic lessons for adults including classes about the country’s Christian history.

ERIC BESSON, the Minister for Immigration and National Identity, says foreigners should improve their French and schools will be encouraged to get children to sing the national anthem, La Marseillaise, at least once a year.

Controversially, given that France has the largest Muslim community in western Europe, Besson also declared that Muslim women should be banned from wearing the veil. “For me, there should be no burkas on the street,” said M. Besson. “The burka is against national values, an affront to women’s rights and equality.

“In France the nation and the republic remain the strongest ramparts against fundamentalist tendencies. France is diversity and France is unity.”

Besson will now conduct a two-month national debate before holding a symposium that will determine core values.

Some readers may disagree with these plans but surely not with the principle of encouraging an open debate about the future of their country. I wish a British politician would have the courage to suggest doing the same thing here.