On the right, Sarkozy’s neo-Thatcherite cocktail of tax cuts, big-bang institutional upheavals and tough law-and-order, directed at immigrants in particular. On the left, Royal’s neo-Blairite concoction of economic flexibility, cultural liberalism and reducing social exclusion.

Presented with this choice, where do Britain’s major parties stand? The Tories have already openly embraced Sarkozy, who returned the compliment when he addressed their conference last month by video link. But Sarkozy is also very much Labour’s candidate next year. Neither Tony Blair nor Gordon Brown will say it publicly, but each believes that Sarkozy will win and has persuaded himself that this outcome is in Britain’s interests. Nothing better illustrates how Labour’s failure to understand the Bush administration has perverted its view of Europe and minimised its once hoped for  influence there.