Don't mean to keep linking to youtube, but this vid is a great overview of the pirate-aspect of the bill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4S4siQAfY4&NR=1
Cory Doctorow is on there.
As to the French minister, had she just told the world that their computers could be easily hacked? I'm sure she just didn't know what on earth she was talking about.
I'm voting Pirate Party UK. Yes, they do exist.