Brexit’s success lies in the hands of the French, not the British, electorate

Something important just happened in France. One of our many Brexit delusions was that we would free ourselves from the machinations of continental politics. But they could affect us more than ever now, and for many years to come.

Our Brexit outcomes will largely be determined by a powerful trio, the PM, Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the French President. We do tend to forget this. Merkel will seek a fourth term and should win, though she is damaged. The dynamics between these three people, the geo-political understanding that they reach with right wing populists breathing down their respective necks, will be crucial to our future. Probably not since Yalta, the inception of the Common Market itself and the fall of Communism, will a handful of leaders have had such momentous decisions to make.

So, very soon, we will need to take a close look at either Fillon or Juppe. Nicolas Sarkozy, increasingly populist, described by President Hollande as a “Duracell bunny who is perpetually agitated”, has crashed and burnt. As unpredictable as Trump, he will not be missed. Fillon, in contrast, is modern and reasonable whilst recognising the importance of the immigration issue. He may even be an anglophile. Juppe is perhaps rather unimaginative, and seemingly straight from French political elite central casting.

A series of rather unfortunate events may await us either way, but I am hoping for a President Fillon, when the key Brexit decisions are made.

John Gemmell

Birmingham

Given all the problems with Buckingham Palace, could we not just flog it to the Chinese and then let HRH rent it under some PFI arrangement?

Rob Lucas

Ross-on-Wye

“The cast of Hamilton was rude to a very good man” tweeted President-elect Donald Trump after the cast of the show asked Trump’s running-mate Mike Pence, who was sat in the audience, to “up-hold our American values”. The fatuous Trump insisted it was “insulting” of Hamilton’s cast “to treat our great future VP to a theatre lecture”.

What this incident shows is that Trump is like every bully that has ever thrown his weight around a playground - he can dish it out but he can’t take it. Trump’s whole campaign was offensive, bad-mannered, and disrespectful and he can expect people to respond in kind.

If Trump thinks the mild rebuke Pence received from the cast of Hamilton was “insulting” he will find the next four years an eye-opener. Trump and the nest of bigots he is assembling into an administration may well have power but they will never have respect.

Sasha Simic

London

Trump has quickly assembled a potential list of loyalists and enemies. Loyalists are being rewarded with plumb positions in his administration and enemies will no doubt feel the sting of his 3am Twitter onslaughts.

The Twitter king shows few signs of moderation but continues to pick people that mirror his extreme ideology that defined his presidential campaign.

Hawks and conservative loyalists are being selected to fill important positions.

Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama has been tapped as attorney general in recognition for his unrelenting crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

Retired General Michael Flynn has been nominated as national security advisor for his hawkish stance on Muslim immigrants and willingness to join the “lock her up” brigades.

Representative Mike Pompeo of Kansas has been nominated director of the CIA for his harsh criticism of Hillary Clinton over Benghazi.

Most surprisingly, is the overture to Governor Mitt Romney a former bitter critic possibly displacing the prior favourite, the incendiary New Gingrich as secretary of state.

Giuliani another favourite is almost certain to be part of Trump’s inner circle if he can extricate himself from his huge financial interests. Michelle Rhee, the former chancellor of schools in the District of Columbia – the “charter school queen” will probably be offered the position as secretary of education.

Jagjit Singh

USA