Insult ... Mr Chirac

From GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON Deputy Political Editor, in Prague

BRITAIN’S relations with France were frosty last night after a personal attack by Jacques Chirac on Tony Blair overshadowed Nato talks.

The row began at an EU summit when the French President refused to back war on Iraq.

In a reference to Mr Blair’s two-year-old son, Chirac told the PM: “How would you be able to look Leo in the eye in 20 years if you help start a war?”

Angry Mr Blair quit the summit early when France shelved an invite to Anglo-French talks.

No10 said the damage would be repaired at the Prague Nato summit. But last night relations remained at rock bottom.

And British diplomats hinted the PM may snub any new invite to Paris.

One said: “Chirac’s playing politics. We won’t let him humiliate the PM.”

# CHIRAC faces a probe over £1.4million spent on food and wine while he was mayor of Paris from 1987 to 1995.

[I know the French are famous for their love of find food and wine, but. . .]

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2002