The officials in the CAA are probably reading this thread. They are real people, with homes and families, trying to do their jobs in our best interests despite EASA pressure. Demonising them like this must be making them wonder why they bother.
Although...I had a conversation recently with someone on the political scene and his view was...."it is not always the European rules that are barking mad, but the way the British interpret them".
I can see his point. It seems to me that if the French can just pull an IR out of thin air just because they wish to (apparently without endless months of committees, debates, meetings etc...)and seemingly get no complaints from Europe, then the CAA could have just said from day 1) "The IMCR will be grandfathered for existing holders" or "The IMCR will remain in place for use in UK airspace". Maybe the French weren't following the rules to the letter, but so what.
Anyway I am not complaining, I have a valid IMCr, based on a foreign IR.