An alternative view would be that Brexiters were (are) looking to turn the clock back to the good old days when we had an Empire and National Service.
Therefore with the French bringing back a form of National Service (albeit not full military service) that Brexiters would want to celebrate...
Yes but Brexiters were all about bringing back control and governing ourselves and there is France doing just that while still in the EU. Maybe that's the point the OP was making.