And so it begins

I've been predicting it for a couple of years now, but the main event of the "recession" is about to get under way. Strikes, chaos and disorder are already taking a grip in Europe - especially France - and here the coalition is about to announce the scale of the cuts to public sector spending as they attempt to get to grips with the debt monster created by the stupidity and profligacy of Blair, Brown and New Labour.

The non-existent recovery is stuttering to a halt while the banks and foreign companies feast on the entrails of our dying industry like vultures devouring a once proud lion that still breathes, but no longer has the strength to fight off the beaks and claws that tear at its flesh.

The unions are on the rise once more - boosted by membership from the bloated non-productive public sector of people in non-jobs - and are belligerent and confident once more. What is more they are now armed with a tactic - the repeated one or two day strike - which causes the most harm and disruption to the employers and the public with the least inconvenience to themselves and their members.

Our armed forces will soon be no longer fit for the purpose of defending the nation - although I'm not convinced that they have been for twenty years - but it doesn't matter. We've sold our nation to the EU anyway and the only thing our soldiers are likely to be doing in the next ten years is putting down internal insurrection and civil chaos. They won't need tanks, planes or aircraft carriers to do that.

And all this as a result of spending cuts that will do nothing to stop the inevitable. This isn't the end of the cuts, the chaos and disruption - this is merely the beginning.

Vive la France!

The rebuff to the Queen by the organisers of this years Normandy commemorative events has brought a sharp rebuke from Steven Glover in The Mail.

A diminutive egomaniac, the stain of Nazi collaboration and why the French can't forgive us for saving them in the War.

Actually, I think Glover is being a little harsh on the French. Yes, it is true that Sarkozy is a short arse with a big ego. Yes, a considerable number of the French - particularly those in authority - were a little too willing to assist their Nazi conquerors and yes, it is true that the French ruling elite won't ever forgive us for coming to their rescue - but I don't think it's fair to lump all the French in with that.

I've travelled a lot in France over the decades and the overwhelming response of most French people I encounter in the rural districts and provincial towns is immense gratitude to the sacrifice of the British servicemen who rescued their nation in both wars- particularly in Normandy itself.

You only have to visit the immaculately tended war grave cemeteries to see how important it is to the people of France that they recognise and pay tribute to the men of our nation who came to help them in their hour of need.

Glover makes the mistake of assuming that the views of the still, predominantly, Gaullist ruling and metropolitan elite are the views of the majority. I don't believe they are. I love France and the French people, but I keep well away from its over rated and exceedingly snobbish (and liberal left) capital.

I prefer to keep to the rural districts and smaller towns where I've always found they reserve a warm welcome and considerable hospitality for British visitors. They are extremely parochial and incredibly conservative (even by my standards), but still very welcoming.

Just because the French ruling elite can't show their gratitude, don't assume that is the same for French people in general.