PRESIDENT Emmanuel Macron observed the first rule of showbiz – make ‘em wait; 72 minutes to be precise before le grand fromage appeared at a joint press conference with his British host.
In a chilly room at Sandhurst, Theresa May welcomed the head of state with some shakey French. Mr M gave a hesitant smile.
Compared to the Prime Minister’s opening remarks, her guest from across the Channel rambled on and on, so much so that there were moments when the PM’s eyes appeared to glaze over.
The most interesting bit of the presser came when Mr le President was finally asked about Brexit and whether Britain could have its cake and eat it.
As her guest talked about the rules on single market membership and how there could be no hypocrisy, that if Britain left the EU, it could not expect to have the same access as it had now, but if it wanted to it could pay up like Norway, Mrs May looked as if she was chewing a bee.
The translation seemed to be - yes, of course, you Brits can have your deal and it might even be bespoke but it will be nowhere near as good as the one you have now. No cake; no eating it. No contagion.
But, generally, the entente was cordiale, not least after Mr M’s masterful display of diplomacy with the offer of a loan of the Bayeaux Tapestry. Looking forward, he cheesily even suggested that we could “make a new tapestry together”.
Earlier, as well as lunching in a gastro pub, there was the pomp the President loves: guard of honour; flypast.
A hailstorm broke; there was a clap of thunder. Ominous portents. But after the skies opened, a rainbow miraculously appeared. A sign perhaps that after the storm of Brexit, a new hopeful future awaits?
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