Beating Time

Encouraging signs of cultural Britishness have emerged from the disorder in Paris, where riot police tear-gassed an orchestra at Place de la République, under the eyes of Marianne herself. The orchestra describes itself as anti-racist, anti-capitalist, feminist, environmentalist and committed to de-growth, which is about as provocative towards the forces of centrist moderation as anyone could dare to get. Fortunately, orchestras in general are famously less perilous to assault than angry mobs and actual criminals, and it is only natural that the forces of centrist moderation should wish to avoid excessive risk of harm to their frères et semblables in the ever-sensitive fascist and looter communities.