French nationals fear “Frexit” as they swoop on Wembley to vote in elections

Thousands of French nationals turned out in Wembley to place their vote in the country’s elections.

More than 20,000 people queued up at the French Lycee International de Londres Winston Churchill school, in Forty Lane, on Sunday to vote on the future of their homeland.

In results that has stunned many, the centrist Emmanuel Macron will face far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a second election for the French presidency on May 7.

Pro-European Mr Macron, a former banker, has never stood for election before and if he wins will become France’s youngest ever president.

Ms Le Pen, leader of the French National Party, is calling for “Frexit” - a referendum to follow the UK out of Europe, and wants to slash immigration.

Leila Roy, a Belsize Park Conservative councillor, whose son Anton attends the Lycee, said the mood in the queue was good but the result was not.

She said: “Frightening, disappointing, I do not recognise the country I grew up in.

“French politicians say do what’s best for your country and your children. I’ll do my “devoir republicain”. I will vote for Macron despite the fact that he was never elected before, he’s a socialist whatever he says and he is one of the makers of the current economic crisis in France.”

She said that fellow French citizens she’d spoken to were also disappointed by the result adding: “It’s not likely that anyone in London would vote Le Pen. I’ve already decided if Le Pen gets in I’m applying for British citizenship because Brexit might be bad, she’s so much worse.”