French Socialist presidential candidate François Hollande arrived in London Wednesday for a brief visit where he had lunch with Labour leader Ed Miliband and address expats. He says he wants to discuss reorientating Europe with fellow “progressives” and will defend his plans to rein in high finance.

Hollande’s team hope an international tour will boost his stature as a statesman at home.

But they also hope to pick up votes from the 300,000 to 400,000 French citizens living in London and will meet some of them at a conference at King’s College and at an election rally in the British capital.

More: http://www.english.rfi.fr/europe/20120229-french-socialist-hollande-meets-miliband-london-visit-not-cameron