Further word from the carve-up of spoils. The French have displayed no interest in the gender balance of the Commission batting away demands that at least half of the Commissioners should be women. "Non! Nothing to see here!" rumbles Hollande. They have their eyes on a prize. It isn't an inspiring or hopeful prize but when you belong to the European Union, you tend to get excited by such matters. To outsiders, it looks like your standard missionary position whereas if you are inside, orgasmic.
I am, of course, speaking of no other portfolio than the Economic. After all, such paragons of growth as the French are enthusiastic about spreading the manure across the Continent.
In the event that Britain were to leave the EU, it would not be the French or Germans who would benefit but probably the Irish. Peter Casey makes a case for the island as a smuggler's paradise since no country would impose a border between Ulster and the Republic. They could try, but it would be unenforceable.
If only the European Commission had the wisdon of Cnut.