Don’t follow in the footsteps of gilets jaunes – a more militant approach will only hurt the Final Say campaign

The marches and campaign for a People’s Vote on Brexit have been honourable in their pacifism. They should stay that way

Last weekend I travelled to France, visiting Paris and Marseille. Having lived and worked in France, I have a close affinity to the French people and their firm belief in “liberté, égalité, fraternité”. Even arriving at the Gare de Marseille Saint Charles, there is a large sign depicting the 70th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights.

Having followed reports of the rise of the gilets jaunes (yellow vests), I wanted to see first hand how this movement was gathering such momentum.

The gilets jaunes were born out of a protest against the Macron government’s plan to increase tax on fuel to aid the country’s transition to green energy. The protest was organised by ordinary working people through social media – there is no leader, political party or trade union attached to the gilets jaunes.

Since 17 November, there have been roadblocks, barriers at roundabouts and blockades of fuel depots. These were peaceful protests by working class people; the price of fuel had become one of the major talking points in France.

Sadly, these initially peaceful protests became marred by some unfortunate accidents and incidents, fatally discrediting the movement.

I wanted to find out more about this, so on Sunday morning, I went for coffee in a local bar in a residential area of Marseille. The media was full of reports of the previous night’s violence. The customers taking their early morning coffee were not talking, but watching the news.

I spoke to one of them, and he explained how they were angry that the gilets jaunes had been infiltrated by far-right and far-left organisations, and that public opinion was turning against them. The situation had been made worse by the death of an 80-year-old woman caught up in the demonstrations in Marseille the night before.

Why am I talking about this? Well, as head of operations at Renew, I firmly believe that the government’s Brexit deal is bad for this country. But I am concerned by suggestions from some corners that the Remain movement should become more militant.

The marches and campaign for a People’s Vote have been honourable in their pacifism. They should stay that way.

On returning to London on the Eurostar Monday morning, I read of an impending meeting between the organisers of the gilets jaunes and the Macron government.

They had been forced, due to the violence of the ultra-left and hard right, to meet and stop the action. In the end, Macron got away lightly, offering only a six-month freeze, which the moderate leaders of the gilets jaunes had little choice but to accept.

The Remain campaign must stick to its principles and not resort to violence. We are getting the upper hand and we cannot allow extremists to infiltrate us. It is not the British way to force change through violence.

David Britten, head of operations at Renew

Climate change is a battle of the left-behinds

Events in Paris show that it is the “left-behinds” in America and Europe as well as the aspirational poor in Asia and Africa who are the obstacle climate alarmists, and the Green bien pensant must overcome.

Scientists like me, appalled by climategate and the dodgy models on which catastrophists depend, simply don’t have the heft.

The gilets jaunes realise the global elite will dump the cost of this hugely expensive solution to a non-problem on them.

Scotland saw the greatest transfer of wealth from the poor to rich landowners in its history and every nation has its version of this story. The poor need to take to the streets – or elect the likes of Donald Trump.

John Cameron
St Andrews

Stop the Brexit madness

With the avalanche of bad news surrounding Brexit and more illegal campaign spending being uncovered by the day, I wonder how much longer some elements of British society can maintain the facade of respectability.

We have a reputation in recent times of fairness and honesty, yet the Brexit shambles is blowing that apart. It will also likely damage the vital unity of Europe.

Yesterday’s news of refugees and asylum seekers being thrown out of their accommodation by the right-wing government in Italy, and vulnerable children homeless in coastal French towns, is a potent sign we must not ignore.

I call for those driving this madness to stop and concentrate their energy on the many vitally important issues facing humanity.

Steve Edmondson
Haslingfield

Theresa May has achieved loads, if austerity is your thing

In his piece, “Corbyn scored a showpiece of an own goal at PMQs”, Tom Peck writes: “By this time next week, all probabilities indicate Theresa May might find herself defenestrated from No 10, with not a single, solitary achievement to show for her time spent there.”

Except, of course, for relentlessly pursuing the painful austerity cuts, spreading the misery of universal credit and maintaining the hostile environment for immigrants.

Henry Peacock
Watling Street Road

More positivity, please

The quantity and quality of news generated by most government, private as well as independent media sources across the globe are nowadays loaded with information related to futile negative local and international politics; sex, violence, abuses, discrimination, accidents, riots, wars, terror attacks, mob violence, police inaction, corruption, nepotism, fraud, murder, failing economy to name only a handful.

It is important to accommodate some different aspect of life with news too for building the newer generation and to provide a relief from the challenges of our present difficult life and challenges of our global existence.

Life has more to offer than just struggle and it is important to motivate people towards positive aspect of our socio-economic as well as socio-political life. International media houses that frame and help in developing global opinion should also look forward in accommodating some positive news that could provide direction to our younger generations and help them to look forward towards something to make them better and responsible citizens.

Saikat Kumar Basu
Lethbridge, Canada