header-logo header-logo

07 November 2019 / David Burrows
Issue: 7863 / Categories: Opinion , Brexit
printer mail-detail

Brexit from the other side of La Manche

10896
David Burrows reflects on Liberté, Egalité et Fraternité and the French citoyen and citoyenne

One of the more remarkable facts about life in France, since the 2016 referendum result, is the lack of any rancour against the British and at what Brexit may do to Europe. Perfidious Albion may be as perfidious as ever. The British cannot be relied upon to comply with treaty terms. But the French still seem to have a continuing affection for us, for humour anglais, and to be as besotted as ever with the royal family. Daily you pass maisons de la presse (newsagents) with magazines in the window with pictures of Princes William and Harry, and their wives and children, and of Princess Diana. And this is despite the fact that France is almost aggressively secular, with republican roots which run deep following the 1789 Revolution.

How has the British constitution held up against Brexit as compared with how it might have been had the French decided to leave? How might

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Maryam Syed KC, Church Court Chambers

NLJ Career Profile: Maryam Syed KC, Church Court Chambers

From childhood dreams of the Bar to some of the country's most challenging cases, Maryam Syed KC explains why she has never stopped standing up for others

DAC Beachcroft—Richard Breavington, Rachel Ford & Daniel Guilfoyle

DAC Beachcroft—Richard Breavington, Rachel Ford & Daniel Guilfoyle

DAC Beachcroft significantly expands Cyber team, hiring three Cyber partners

Browne Jacobson—Professor Clive Kay

Browne Jacobson—Professor Clive Kay

Browne Jacobson appoints senior healthcare leader Professor Clive Kay as strategic adviser

NEWS
Should every solicitor found to have acted dishonestly face automatic striking off? The answer, argues John Gould, chair of Russell-Cooke LLP in NLJ this week, is no 
Winning an arbitral award against a state is one thing; enforcing it is another
Can government success in court tell us whether the rule of law is healthy? 
Poorly drafted dispute resolution clauses can trigger litigation before the real dispute is even addressed
As cryptocurrency becomes mainstream, family lawyers are increasingly confronting the challenges it creates on divorce
back-to-top-scroll