France is experiencing widespread unrest, and a columnist warns that Britain, under the influence of Andy Burnham, risks following a similar path. The French Revolution of 1789 was triggered by famine, soaring bread prices, an unfair tax system and resentment of absolute monarchy. Today's unrest is driven by the cost of living, fuel prices, deteriorating school buildings and Emmanuel Macron's irritating smugness. The underlying anger is familiar: people feel the system isn't working for them and want more, especially more public spending.
French Spending and Debt
French government spending reached 57.2% of GDP last year, among the highest in the Western world. Britain's is historically high too, but at 44.5%, it's still way behind. Yet French students are protesting about crumbling classrooms and teacher shortages despite years of increased education spending. France already takes an enormous slice of national income to fund public services and a generous welfare state, including pensions from age 62 for many. The result is that it's buried even deeper in debt than Britain.
Lessons for Britain
Historically, Britain learned valuable lessons from the French Revolution. Governments must address legitimate grievances before they boil over. Food and energy supplies must be secure. Patriotism and religion give people a sense of belonging. Peaceful protest must be protected, but political violence and extremism must be dealt with firmly. Today, it feels like we're forgetting those lessons.
Burnham's Direction
Burnham's genial, man-of-the-people manner might calm tempers. Promising more spending on public services and throwing the odd bone to Palestinian protesters might buy him breathing space. But he risks taking us in precisely the wrong direction: more state provision, more promises and more public spending, without giving people the tools to build secure lives for themselves. He wants us to become more French, basically, and more European, drawing us ever closer to the EU even as Europe struggles with economic stagnation, political upheaval and the rise of the populist Right that Labour loathes. If we try to be more like France, London will end up copying Paris, which is not a good look.
