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Nabila Ramdani: Why hate sells so well in our modern world

In her monthly column in The Connexion, award-winning journalist Nabila Ramdani shares her views on why hate sells well in our modern world, and how we are all poorer for it.

Simon Heffer: how Macron is going to lead France post-Covid

Macron will need nerves of steel to get us out of this Covid predicament, says Connexion and Telegraph columnist Simon Heffer.

Nabila Ramdani: masks have dramatically changed daily life

Mask rules have changed daily life in extraordinary ways, says Connexion columnist and award-winning French-Algerian journalist Nabila Ramdani.

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Ed Llewellyn: remaining optimistic for France's rentrée

Every month the British Ambassador to France, Ed Llewellyn, shares an insight into his role. Here, read his column for September.

Simon Heffer: New PM is ‘safe but dull’ compared to Macron

Regular Connexion, Daily and Sunday Telegraph columnist Simon Heffer comments on, as 2022 nears, how France's new PM is ‘safe but dull’ and will make Macron shine in contrast.

Ed Llewellyn: reflecting on 2020 & the future of France

Every month the British Ambassador to France, Ed Llewellyn, shares an insight into his role. Here, read his column for August.

Nabila Ramdani: French prefer to be "well off, not rich"

Award-winning journalist and regular columnist Nabila Ramdani explains why "most in France like to be well off – but not stinking rich".

Ed Llewellyn: what the EU exit means for residents in France

Every month the British Ambassador to France, Ed Llewellyn, shares an insight into his role.

Small business and tax advice: régime réel incomes explained

In the June small business and tax advice column, a reader's question on régime réel incomes for the self-employed is answered.

Income tax in France: what is form 2041E?

In our monthly money column you'll find advice on important financial matters in France. In the June issue, Hugh MacDonald explains form 2041E in relation to income tax, and much more.

Simon Heffer: Macron reignites ‘esprit de resistance’

Renowned political commentator, historian and Connexion columnist Simon Heffer comments on how Macron has invoked the greatness of de Gaulle to reinvent ‘esprit de resistance’.

It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel...

Jill Foxley is an English garden designer who lives in a rural farmhouse in southwest France that she and her husband are (slowly) restoring

When Macron gets tough on protecting ‘Frenchness’

For all the rhetoric of three years ago about how he would break the mould of French politics, Emmanuel Macron has some pretty orthodox methods.

Polluting digital screens are far from private matter

Green issues are quite rightly topping campaign agendas for municipal elections being held across France in March.

The Costa spending your winter in Spain

Many of my neighbours have gone to Spain and who can blame them?

UK’s Wimbledon beats France’s Roland Garros any day

The strongest sense of England you can get in France is arguably standing on the lawn tennis court at the British Embassy in Paris.

‘New’ RN party is still FN wolf in sheep’s clothing

According to projections, France’s Rassemblement National (RN) is due to do very well in May’s European Parliament elections.

Macron gambles on majority choosing his way over GJ’s

After President Macron’s address to the French people on 25 April – delayed by 10 days because of the terrible fire at Notre-Dame de Paris – only one question needed to be asked: had he done enough?

Macron was weak with French gilets jaunes

- and institutionalised rioting is the result

Show of strength is sign of government in desperation

Too little, too late?

Why is France’s fire safety record such a disgrace?

When Prince William last travelled to Courchevel 1850 with family and friends, he is said to have used a private jet belonging to the billionaire Duke of Westminster.

Crossborder populism causing EU more grief than the UK

Emmanuel Macron, as we know, expects to be the unofficial leader of Europe once Angela Merkel retires as Chancellor of Germany.

Fuel rises don’t hit poorest - they don’t have cars

In the beginning, the gilets jaunes protests were said to highlight a divided nation – rich cities versus poor rural areas, but is that too simplistic?

Secret gift of village healers

To outsiders, the French can seem obsessed with illness, if not borderline hypochondriac.

In France, great writers are feted - and read

This is a hard winter: hard in France, where the president appears reduced to going on his knees before his electorate to ward off anarchy; and hard for Britons living in France, watching the dishonesty and incompetence of Westminster politicians in providing anything approaching leadership with respect to Britain’s future relationship – if any – with the European Union. It is at such times that one searches for consolation.

Why ‘Hitler’ image of president shocked France

Anybody who attempts to evoke an image of Adolf Hitler to make a point about a modern politician is on shaky ground.

Expertise and politics don't always mix

Gérard Collomb resigned as Interior Minister on Wednesday, October 3, to run for mayor of Lyon, becoming the third member of Emmanuel Macron's government to quit in as many months, after Nicolas Hulot and Laura Flessel. Here, Samantha David asks if career politicians or experts make better ministers

Calculating the hidden cost of Brexit

Dr Tim Blakemore , a former senior law lecturer at the University of Northampton who now lives in France, argues that the UK will end up paying far more than the £39billion 'divorce bill' to leave the EU

War context was missing

Although French, I read your paper with interest each month.... but it is not perfect.

Joke is on all taking pride in their chauvinist views

Extreme nationalism is the flavour of the decade and has disturbing parallels with history as we approach the centenary of the end of World War One.

Macron should have honoured WW1 fallen at Amiens

It is hard to think of a more evocative symbol of what Emmanuel Macron is meant to stand for than Amiens.

Macron must look to build a Sixth Republic

To mark the rentrée politique – when French politicians return to work after what is now an ostentatiously short holiday – Le Figaro ran a spread designed to crush the morale of any member of the French political class preparing to confront the challenges of the year ahead.

Summer of misery won’t stop Macron’s "Maggie Moment"

Mr Macron is already reaping the kind of results that far more pugnacious politicians only ever fantasised about

Strikes will continue until public mood truly changes

We reach the first anniversary of Emmanuel Macron’s election with him apparently trying to undo the economic damage done to France by the Fourth and Fifth republics: which means, above all, breaking the power of the trade unions

Crocus focus for bright February

From her Vosges garden, Cathy Thompson goes cuckoo for this month’s flowers

Winter scents and sensitivity

From her Vosges garden, Cathy Thompson offers tips to brighten up January

A very berry French Christmas

In her French garden dispatch, Cathy Thompson offers tips on winter colour

November gardening column: Time to lay down some roots

In her latest French garden dispatch, Cathy Thompson is digging and planting

Two funerals, an election, and one last controversy

Opinion writers play a major role in the French press. Here are a few of the latest ‘hot topics’ to feature in the columns of the country’s media

A firm hand is required in autumn

In her first French garden dispatch, Cathy Thompson is pruning and grafting

Pension changes do not need to cause tax pain

Retirement savings for about 360,000 people could face 55% tax but there are ways to safeguard pensions. Published December 2016.

What do the French really think of Britons? | Michael Delahaye

When asked about their feelings towards foreigners, the French typically respond with clichés – but why?

Quality of life matters, too | James Harrington

Yes, business matters - but so does something intangible ... and it's worth fighting for

From cradle to grave, France is completely male dominated | Eléonore Stévenin-Morguet

The creation of a ministry for families, children and women’s rights has angered women’s groups, who mockingly asked why cooking and cleaning were missed out. Lobbyist Eléonore Stévenin-Morguet , of Osez Le Féminisme , says it is a backward step

I doubt even de Gaulle would win this battle | Simon Heffer

The renowned political commentator and historian, turns his gaze to French politics

The vital difference between volunteer and unpaid work | Nadi Bellaoui

Authorities in the Haut-Rhin have voted to make benefit payments for the long-term unemployed conditional on seven hours of volunteer work a week. The RSA – paid to those with no other source of income – is €524 a month for a single person. Nadia Bellaoui is head of the Mouvement Associatif , which represents non-profit organisations across France. Here, she tells Connexion why she opposes the decision