France will now see shops stay open on Sundays, Prime Minister Manuel Valls has revealed, in a bid to turn around the country's flagging economy.
The premier's announcement came as he visited Britain today, just days after the head of the John Lewis department store was forced to apologise for branding the country "hopeless and downbeat".
Speaking to business leaders in the City of London, Valls said that his announcement, as part of a major economic reform programme, would be "bad news to give you here in London". The French government is also planning to allow museums to open for seven days a week and to end the 35-hour working week.
The French Socialist premier insisted that he was pro-business and that the government's 75% top rate of tax would be gone by January. He also warned that the European Union would be "amputated" if Britain decided to leave under David Cameron's upcoming EU referendum.
Valls' visit comes days after John Lewis boss Andy Street attacked France as "sclerotic, hopeless and downbeat", warning British entrepreneurs that the country was "finished".
In an attack that provoked a fierce French backlash, Street told an audience of entrepreneurs: “I have never been to a country more ill at ease . . . nothing works and worse, nobody cares about it. If you’ve got investments in French businesses, get them out quickly.”
Street's comments have clearly piqued the French, who took to Twitter to label him an "idiot" and tell him to "fuck off".
Guillaume Maujean, editor in chief of finance and markets at the French newspaper Les Echos, wrote: "This 'French-bashing' is getting grotesque."
Street is not the first business figure to slag off France, as the City A.M financial newspaper did similar earlier in the year when its editor branded their economy a "failed socialist experiment".
In response, the French embassy issued a rebuttal titled "10 accounts on which City A.M. has got it wrong on France", dismissing his "ideological mix of prejudice and error” and mocking the National Health Service as “ailing” and suffering from ”years of under-investment”.
However, Tory MPs hit back hard, with some even ridiculing Hollande for his rumoured affair with actress Julie Gayet. Tory MP Brooks Newmark - now somewhat ironically - told HuffPostUK: "Francois Hollande seems to manage his country's financial affairs as well as his personal affairs."
The French premier also used his visit today to meet Prime Minister David Cameron. Cameron acknowledged that he was from "different political families" to the French premier, but he said the two countries faced the same challenges.
Cameron said: "I'm sure we will have a lot to talk about on the economy, where the bilateral relationship is very strong, we both have the same challenges of getting our economies to grow and generate jobs and wealth.
"While we are from different political families, I'm sure there is a lot that we can share in terms of experience about what needs to happen."
Brexiters
Nigel Farage(01 of09)
Open Image ModalThe Ukip leader and MEP is the most famous 'outer'. After his party took over a 100 council seats in May's local election's Nigel Farage is hoping to win the 2014 European elections and then gain MPs in Westminster in 2015. He has confirmed he will seek a parliamentary seat himself. (credit:PA)
Lord Lawson(02 of09)
Open Image ModalMargaret Thatcher's former chancellor and a true 'Tory grandee' revealed in The Times that if and when there is a referendum "I shall be voting out". He also stuck the boot into the David Cameron by saying the prime minister's attempts to renegotiate the terms of the UK's relationship with the EU would be "inconsequential". (credit:PA)
Backbench Brexiters(03 of09)
Open Image ModalThere are quite a few Conservative MPs who would like to wave goodbye to Brussels. Ken Clarke has said the figure is as low as 30 despite the strong eurosceptic feeling on the backbenches. However the exact number is not clear. Mid-Bedforshire MP Nadine Dorries, who remains suspended from the Conservative Party, is currently talk tof the eurosceptic town amid rumours she may defect to Ukip. Other backbench Brexiters include Bill Cash, Douglas Carswell, Peter Bone and Philip Davies and former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth. (credit:PA)
Labour's 'Let's Leave' Lot(04 of09)
Open Image ModalMost of the anti-EU focus is on the Tory benches. But there are more than a handful of Labour MPs would would like to quit Brussels as well. Eurosceptics include Frank Field, Kate Hoey, Austin Mitchell, and Gisela Stuart.Stuart has argued the status quo is "not sustainable" and Britain should leave. (credit:PA)
Media Moguls(05 of09)
Open Image ModalRupert Murdoch has warned that the EU will "sink" the UK. The News International and boss caused a stir when he met Nigel Farage for dinner in London recently and said the Ukip leader was "reflecting opinion" with his anti-EU views.In November 2010 Richard Desmond’s Daily Express became the first UK newspaper actively to call for Britain to leave the EU, launching a ‘Get Britain Out’ campaign (credit:PA)
I'm A Celeb, Get Us Out Of Here(06 of09)
Open Image ModalOf course no campaign is complete without a bit of star power. The pro-EU camp have Eddie Izzard, who do the Brexiters have?Joan Collins, a 'patron' of Ukip, wants the UK to leave. "The EU, controlled from Brussels, cares only about itself," she said in March. (credit:PA)
The Business Types(07 of09)
Open Image ModalMost business leaders do indeed seem content with what Lawson called the "warm embrace of the European single market", but there are a few dissenters. Private equity guys Jon Moulton and Edmund Truell are two and Next boss and Tory peer Simon Wolfson has said: "Britain should stay in Europe, but only on the right terms". (credit:PA)
The Commentariat(08 of09)
Open Image ModalThere are a number of loud voices whinnying on the sidelines to say "neigh" to the EU notably Melanie Phillips, Richard Littlejohn, Tom Utley, Simon Heffer.Basically the Daily Mail stable. (credit:PA)
Edging Towards Exit(09 of09)
Open Image ModalSeveral high-profile politicians appear to be on the verge of calling for the UK to exit the EU - but just are not there yet.Former defence secretary Liam Fox - pictured here with a big gun - has said "life outside the EU holds no terror" should David Cameron's hopes of negotiating a new treaty fail.Education secretary Michael Gove is said to have told friends the UK has "nothing to be scared of" by leaving Europe.And many other eurosceptic cabinet ministers, including Iain Duncan Smith and Owen Paterson are likely to share that view. (credit:PA)