A certain idea of Europe

France still has a huge influence on British elites

Almost 10 million British people visit France each year, and close to 90,000 own second homes in the country. Among them is the popular semi-fictional (?) Twitter figure R.S. Archer, who since the referendum has become a sort of avatar of the British middle-class psyche: dismayed by Brexit, acutely aware of their country’s place in the world and how it is viewed by others and, most of all, in love with France and the overseas-British French life. Sitting on the terrace, enjoying a glass of Bordeaux and contemplating how inferior your fellow countrymen are - one can see why the fantasy is so popular.

Spain might attract more British tourists but the visitors who take the A10 and A7 each summer are far more influential. I remember our first epic family drive down to the south of France with a baby in the back and stopping off for a snack somewhere (with still another 600km to go!). The people on the next table were discussing next year’s commissions for Channel 4, and I felt like I had truly made it among the liberal elite as I gave them a little nod to say ‘yep, I’m one of you.’

Because of the influence of the Great Satan, British political commentators tend to vastly underestimate how important continental politics is on our country, and in particular that of France. Both on the Left and Right, they underplay how similar to us the political questions facing our neighbours, and how alien those in America are, a mindset which reaches its greatest intensity over the issue of healthcare.

This is, in part, because French popular culture has so little impact in comparison to America, but France’s historical influence on England can hardly be understated. Although its linguistic supremacy is long in retreat, and the British have confused feelings for the country, France still has huge prestige among British elites in a way no other country really does. Which makes it current elections so important.