French Strikes

On the bus to Oxford recently, I met Tom a staunch conservative of the old school. The conversation soon turned to the violent student demonstrations in Paris.

I was surprised when he argued that the French government should give in to the demonstrator’s demands. Tom thought it iniquitous of the French PM Devillepin to introduce new labour laws that that would discriminate against young workers. I pointed out that France was at a tipping point, if Devillepin surrendered on his Thatcherite reforms, France would soon turn into the sick man of Europe. I began to suspect that Tom was more concerned about the potential disruption to his planned Spring break at his Dordogne estate?

french strikes