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Comment: France needs to rethink Le Pen's ban from political office
Columnist Simon Heffer says the court decision looks too much like a political hit job
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Comment: Anti-French bravado is an embarrassing British anachronism
Columnist Nabila Ramdani notes that the xenophobic jibes now only appear to go one way
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'My language skills mean I am just not funny in French'
Columnist Cynthia Spillman gives advice on how to convey your humour while learning French
Our Christmas mail has just arrived... in February
Further to your online item on Royal Mail compensation for Christmas mail arriving late from the UK and having failed to get anywhere on the link given, I phoned today on the number given. I was told that there is no compensation paid by Royal Mail for the delay in international items. I think your item gave false hope.
Susan Churchill, by email
What has happened re: this last Christmas’s post? I am still receiving cards that were posted before Christmas. I was disappointed how many I received over the Christmas period, but received nine in late January. I have checked the postal dates and stamps, all were posted well before Christmas. All had the same postal stamp of £1.57.
Val Watson, Aude
Editor’s note: Our article said it ‘may be possible to claim’ – the link was for senders to claim on tracked items; international recipients cannot claim. This link explains more:royalmail.com/international-compensation. Royal Mail have now also issued this statement: “Despite severe weather in the UK causing some minor delays across the network, our enhanced delivery pipeline to France operated on schedule throughout the peak Christmas period. All letters and Christmas cards were delivered to La Poste in Lille and arrived by the agreed daily cut-off time throughout this period.”