Why the grievances of the gilets jaunes and Brexiteers need to be resolved in the same measured way

Emmanuel Macron and Theresa May must find non-extremist solutions to improve the conditions of the poorest. This will prevent the movements from taking a darker turn, as Arjun Neil Alim explains

It couldn’t happen in Britain – could it? (EPA)

They “stormed heaven”, taking over Paris until the government acted. Karl Marx’s depiction of the violent episode of the Paris Commune in 1871 offers an indication of how often the City of Lights has been bathed in blood.

Four weekends ago, protesters in yellow vests flooded the boulevards of Paris, ostensibly to protest against a “green tax increase” on petrol and diesel of four and seven cents per litre respectively. Demonstrations soon turned violent, with at least three killed and hundreds wounded around the country. The Arc de Triomphe was desecrated by graffiti.

Each weekend since, the protesters have been back, returning in large numbers to the streets of the main cities. The authorities have become increasingly better prepared to limit the damage, with extra security personnel employed to maintain the peace. Still, the violence has gone on.