The centrist French presidential contender struggled to get his campaign back on track yesterday after losing his poll lead over contentious remarks on the country's colonial record and gay marriage, writes David Chazan in Paris.

Emmanuel Macron angered right-wing supporters by branding colonial rule a "crime against humanity" during a trip to Algeria, which was once the jewel in France's imperial crown.

The independent then upset left-wingers by reaching out to opponents of gay marriage, saying they had been stigmatised and "humiliated" by President Francois Hollande's socialist government.

He had overtaken the conservative hopeful Francois Fillon but polls show they are now tied, ending last week on 20pc. The National Front's Marine Le Pen was on 26pc.

Sunday Independent