Socialist mayor of Paris carps about Olympics

Written by Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and published in Daily Mail on Tue 12th Jul 2005

The Editor,

Daily Mail

Dear Sir,

The carping by Socialist mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe about London's Olympic success (July 11th) is ridiculous, and unrepresentative of French people.

My French Euro-MP colleagues gave nothing but generous (if somewhat rueful) praise last Wednesday. They appreciated not only that promoting the merits of our great city was perfectly valid, but also that London won because our diversity and internationalism are in tune with the Olympic spirit.

In contrast, the French people recently and sadly demonstrated in their vote on the future of the EU an introverted mentality. They opposed EU enlargement to ex-Communist central Europe and radiated a 'stop the world, I want to get off' attitude. When President Chirac was rude about British food, saying it was 'as bad as Finland's', it's safe to bet he lost Helsinki's vote!

On Thursday, I was inundated with expressions of sympathy and solidarity from French MEPS outraged at the bombings. Mr Delanoe's sour grapes should not tar the vast majority of French people.

Yours sincerely,

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP,

Liberal Democrat MEP for London