Could you survive a boycott of French goods?

Last week French minister Emmanuel Macron emerged at the forefront of the Brexit debate, warning that if Britain leaves the EU, it would seriously threaten Anglo-French relations. In particular, he was referring to the Touquet agreement, which allows Britain to carry out border controls – and therefore keep migrants away – on the French side of the Channel. ‘The day this relationship unravels, migrants will no longer be in Calais,’ he said.

But if the French want to play that game, I say, let’s play it too. We’ve survived centuries of relatively cordial relations with our nearest neighbours, despite the Hundred Years’ War, various sieges (Calais, Orleans) and multiple battles (Hastings, Trafalgar, Waterloo). Yet 23 June may be the date that finally breaks the dromadaire’s back, after which Anglo-French relations collapse. And if that day comes, we should make it clear we don’t need France, by insisting on a full boycott of French goods.