Nicolas Sarkozy is going to cause problems for both Gordon Brown and David Cameron. The headache for Cameron, as Matt pointed out the other day, is that Sarkozy sounds far more right-wing than he actually is. His victory speech was full of the kind of red-meat rhetoric that much of the Tory grassroots and press are yearning to hear. Just take this passage, which would—with Britain substituted for France—have them on their feet roaring for more at conference:
I am thus going to restore the status of work, authority, standards, respect, merit. I am going to give the place of honour back to the nation and national identity. I am going to give back to the French people pride in France
Add to this, that Sarkozy will inevitably end up in nostalgia-inducing confrontations with the Unions and you have a new poster-boy for the Tory right.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in