France won't interfere over the fishing boat blockades

In its way, there is something awesome about the French tradition of direct action. With apparently little interference from the French authorities – itself part of the ritual – a relatively small bunch of French fisherfolk temporarily blockaded the ports of Calais and St Malo yesterday.

- SEAN O'GRADY

Using only their little fishing boats, some vans, and a few pallets set alight, they managed to disrupt Channel ferries, trade and attempts by Jersey boats to land their catch.

They made their point, and there will be more to follow, we may be sure, as Anglo-French relations recede into a sort of cold war. Fishing, the Northern Ireland protocol, the Aukus defence pact and the migration crisis are the points of dispute, and none yet shows any sign of amicable resolution. The British home secretary has been banned from entering France. The entente cordiale looks as dead as a dover sole served up in a French bistro.