In a recent visit to London, Gabriel Attal—the dynamic leader of Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party and France’s youngest-ever prime minister—spoke candidly about the evolving relationship between France and the United Kingdom post-Brexit. Addressing a gathering of French expatriates in Kensington, Attal emphasised that, despite earlier fears of severed ties, a new phase of cooperation is emerging, driven by geopolitical shifts like the war in Ukraine and turbulence in the United States. “We are waking at the moment from a long sleep when we talk about relations between France and the UK,” he said, underscoring the necessity of rekindling strong bilateral ties especially in defence, economy, energy, and immigration cooperation.

Attal’s political trajectory has been marked by rapid advancement and record-breaking appointments. At 29, he became France’s youngest postwar minister, and at 34, he was appointed prime minister. Although his premiership was cut short following a snap election, Attal remains a central figure in Macron’s centrist camp and is widely seen as a likely successor in the 2027 presidential race. While he has yet to formally declare his candidacy, he is openly “working on it,” signalling his intent to build a project-oriented campaign that distinguishes him from other contenders. In line with this vision, his party has proposed measures addressing social issues such as teenage screen addiction and immigration control, including controversial proposals to ban headscarves in public for girls under 15—a move that has sparked debate and cautious distancing from some within Renaissance.

On immigration and security, Attal advocates for deeper collaboration with the UK, highlighting Macron’s upcoming state visit that will include bilateral discussions at Windsor Castle. He stresses that the UK, alongside France, remains a critical military power on the European continent and that cooperation on defence and immigration aligns with mutual strategic interests. Attal mentions ongoing negotiations about UK access to the new €150 billion EU armaments fund, indicating a pragmatic openness to enhanced military ties despite financial and political complexities. Furthermore, he is keen on forging a joint approach to the EU’s forthcoming asylum and immigration pact, which seeks to streamline migrant processing and shares responsibility for new arrivals among member states—an especially pertinent issue since approximately 30% of immigrants to Europe aim to reach the UK.

European integration and geopolitical stability remain central to Attal’s agenda. He supports an accelerated path for Ukraine’s EU membership despite resistance from countries like Hungary and concern from European farmers. Hosting a summit in Paris, Attal spearheaded efforts to include Ukrainian observers in the European parliament and to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine’s defence. He advocates for leveraging all diplomatic channels to circumvent obstacles within the EU accession process, reflecting his reputation for navigating political complexities with confidence.

Attal’s social policies blend liberal and authoritarian elements. He supports constitutional protection for abortion rights while endorsing measures that curb religious symbols in public schools, an approach framed as protecting girls from oppressive cultural practices. Critics, however, accuse him of politicising vulnerable groups for headline-grabbing purposes. His stance reveals a broader commitment to secularism and state authority in social affairs, consistent with the centrist yet firm governance style associated with Macron’s Renaissance.

Domestically, Attal also positions himself as an advocate for confronting the rise of the far-right populism embodied by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally. He warns that such forces threaten to dismantle France’s European commitments and economic stability, drawing parallels with the industrial setbacks Britain experienced post-Brexit. His efforts to reinforce the pro-European centrist vision aim to safeguard France’s position on the continent and beyond in an era marked by uncertainty and shifting alliances.

In sum, Gabriel Attal emerges as a figure seeking to renew France’s political centre with a clear-eyed emphasis on international partnership, social regulation, and pragmatic governance. His London visit and public statements reveal a leader crafting a narrative of renewal, defence cooperation, and moderating France’s internal debates—all with an eye on the presidency and France’s role in a turbulent Europe.

📌 Reference Map:

Source: Noah Wire Services