Macron’s petulance only worsens this crisis
Emmanuel Macron’s decision to uninvite Priti Patel from an emergency ministerial meeting aimed at finding a solution to the migrant crisis speaks volumes about a head of state who appears to have lost all sense of proportion. The Home Secretary was told she was not welcome at Sunday’s meeting, to be attended by France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and the European Commission, after Mr Macron overreacted in an astonishing fashion to a letter from Boris Johnson. This set out the Prime Minister’s fivepoint plan for Britain and France to work together to prevent a repeat of the tragedy earlier this week in which 27 migrants drowned in the Channel when their inflatable sank.
In an incredible display of petulance, the French president chose to not only withdraw the invitation to Ms Patel but also to berate Mr Johnson for supposedly not taking the migrant crisis seriously enough. His fit of pique seems to have as much to do with the fact that the Prime Minister released the text of his letter and published it on Twitter as with anything of substance. Said the president: “We don’t communicate between leaders via tweets or published letters, we are not whistleblowers.”
Mr Macron said that he would continue to work to tackle the migrant issue, adding that he hoped that the UK would decide to be serious. However, the Prime Minister’s suggestions for closer cooperation with France were entirely serious.
They included joint maritime and airborne surveillance of the beaches near Calais, the use of better sonar and radar for keeping tabs on the migrants’ boats, joint intelligence work to track down and punish the people smugglers, and joint patrols by French gendarmes and British Border Force officers of the beaches and migrant camps, which could begin as soon as next week.
The president has so far resisted the idea of Border Force personnel operating on French territory and he was also expected to reject out of hand the last of Mr Johnson’s requests: that all illegal migrants reaching Britain’s shores should be sent back from whence they came – in other words, to France.
In the Prime Minister’s letter, he made himself available for a face to face meeting with Mr Macron or for a summit conference with other world leaders. But on yesterday’s showing, the president doesn’t seem willing to discuss anything.
Mr Macron appears to be more interested in bashing what he calls the “Brits” than in saving lives. In a situation in which speed is of the essence, the French president’s childish show of indignation is the last thing anyone needs.
Keep calm
The new Covid variant, known as omicron, was only identified a few days ago, but it has already had a significant global impact, causing border closures and ructions in financial markets. South Africa and several neighbouring countries were put on Britain’s red list on Thursday night. The EU has also suspended travel with the region. A case of the variant has been reported in Belgium, and yesterday Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, described the mutation as of “huge international concern”.
These moves are precautions, because there is much we do not know about the omicron variant. It was always recognised that Covid would mutate, and thus far the vaccines have continued to provide strong protection against hospitalisation and death. It could take several weeks before we have enough data to determine whether omicron really is something to worry about.
In the meantime, a sense of proportion is required. Already, some figures are demanding a return to curbs on our freedoms domestically and dread warnings about Christmas have picked up a gear. This is absurd. Although the Government is right to make contingency plans, and to act with a degree of caution, there is no reason why restrictions should be reimposed at home. The booster programme is proceeding apace, and pharmaceutical companies have insisted that they are prepared to tweak the jabs should that be needed to take account of new variants.
Omicron is a reminder that the pandemic is far from over, but the UK is in a good position to weather the months ahead. There is no case for a knee-jerk overreaction now.
Supermarket sweep
The design of a supermarket trolley can lull shoppers into buying 30 per cent more, scientists have found. A conventional trolley, with a bar to hold, engages the triceps, associated with pushing things away. A handle on each side brings in the use of the biceps, psychologically connected with pulling things towards you. It doesn’t matter, of course, if shoppers buy more food, as long as they eat it instead of wasting it – a shocking vice. But those determined to buy less can take simple evasive action. First, use a basket instead of a trolley; even the keenest weight-trainers will lug less to the checkout. Then set a strict time to leave the supermarket – if the children don’t make it, they’ll just have to walk home. A clincher is to wear light clothing. It’s so cold in supermarkets that you’ll be in and out with essential goods in no time.