He made a snide reference to Brexit, tried to suggest that the future of a strong defence lay in Europe rather than under the American umbrella, offered nothing by way of a solution to the small boats crisis and refused to meet Nigel Farage.
His English wasn’t brilliant, but it was a darn sight better than our politicians’ French. It is hard to summarise the state visit of President Macron in any other way. And Starmer fawned and fawned.
It was obvious that the visit was our PM’s way of trying to get closer to Europe. I would not be surprised if in private he apologised to Macron for his country’s having the temerity to heave the EU yoke from its shoulders.
Yet Macron spoke one home truth. He said that the channel crisis was of Britain’s own making because we were a magnet for illegal migrants, and he is right.
For years, I have pointed out that the reason so many people who are already in a safe country keep trying to come here illegally is that it is the easiest country in the West in which to disappear.
I've been in politics long enough to know why Macron dodged a meeting with Farage - Ann WiddecombeWe have no national identity cards, we do not routinely practise secure detention, but we do have a flourishing underground economy.
We leave our migrants free to come and go from hotels and other lodgings and then wonder why they disappear when deportation beckons.
We do not even know how many lawful migrants are leaving in accordance with the terms of their visas or how many are overstaying.
The refusal to meet Nigel Farage when he was meeting Ed Davey was short-sighted. According to all opinion polls, Reform is likely to be the next government, so the sooner EU countries learn to talk to Farage, the better.
It is no good resenting Brexit. It has happened, and if Starmer and Macron want to undo it, then they can go only so far.
If I were to be asked to pick the most worrying aspect of Macron’s visit, it would be Defence. One cannot serve two masters, and Britain must either rely on NATO or on the European Defence Union. Successive governments have seen the clear advantage of NATO and of America’s vast nuclear arsenal.
Indeed, it is because the benefits of NATO are so thoroughly understood that its members have stepped up to the plate and committed to increasing their own budgets after pressure from Trump.
A single European army is the dream of the EU superstate, and Starmer appears to be sleepwalking towards it. No wonder Macron dodged a meeting with Farage.
So what did Britain get out of it? Not much. The spectacle of the state banquet at the Chateau de Windsor, the sight of a radiant Kate in a wonderful dress and a procession of quaint carriages will doubtless have added up to some national gaiety, which is currently in pretty small supply, but as for any practical solution to the small boats problem or making our country safer, there was nothing. Less than nothing. Maybe we should have saved our money.