If Britain Leaves the EU, Paris Wants London's Business

If Britain leaves the EU, then come to us. That’s the message coming from Paris this week, where a group of Parisian politicians and finance experts gathered to announce plans to grab a share of London’s finance business should the United Kingdom vote this month the leave the Union. The U.K.’s referendum on Brexit looms on June 23, and the result looks to be very close indeed. Paris knows this, and is standing in the wings waiting to attract any post-Brexit London exiles. As Paris Deputy Mayor Jean-Louis Missika put it: “We are rolling out the red carpet.”

They aren’t really, though—at least, not yet. What happened Wednesday was really Greater Paris’ political and business leaders waving to the international press to remind them of their existence, rather than the announcement of any new policies. And while no one in Paris actually said they want Brexit to happen, the tone of comments was nonetheless somewhat tart.