Re: Why are you worried that the French students...

I find your analogy inapt. In what way is Polanski causing street confrontations with the police? In Britain, street violence is associated with the far right. With regard to the current unrest in France, it depends on how the electorate respond to the incidents of violence and who they blame. I was thinking that the middle class might respond - though I haven't the least idea if they will - by rallying to the perceived forces of law and order (as happened in 68, of course). But all this is speculative, and might be way off the mark. Firstly, because the Presidential election is some months away. Secondly, because opinion polls show that the majority of the French think the students have legitimate grievances - although the same polls show that the majority condemn LFI's involvement, which is worrying: polls already show that in the run off Le Pen is likely to win with 69 per cent against Mélenchon (and 57 per cent against Edouard Philippe). France could soon have the first far right head of state since Vichy. Still, I am not in France and so have no first hand experience of what is going on or the mood of the French public; and 6 months is a very long time in politics, so we just have to wait and see. Just for the sake of clarity, I am very much with the students, with Mélenchon and with LFI.