It’s not often state-sponsored demonstrations take place in a liberal democracy, but that’s what today’s Unity March in Paris was. That isn’t to deny it was a genuine popular upwelling of people disgusted by Wednesday’s atrocity. No amount of establishment handwringing can bring 3.7m people out onto the streets if the sentiments weren’t truly heartfelt. And it was a fantastic display of solidarity against those who would seek to capitalise on the attacks to foster divisions, though quite how a mobilisation of moderate opinion would blunt the efficacy of racist populism remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, what of the great and the good who took to the streets? It must have been quite a novelty for our Prime Minister to be on a demonstration instead of being the object of one. If the leaders looked a bit stiff while they marched, it’s because of all the brass necks. Even then they weren’t on the demonstration proper. Theirs was a stroll that looked impressive from the front but from above was as deep as the assembled’s commitment to free expression. Je suis Charlie? A right bunch of Charlies, more like. Continue reading →