Blair: Fine the French over beef

Tony Blair today demanded that France be taken back to court - and fined if necessary - for persisting with its illegal ban on British beef.

The new round in the beef war put the British and French governments on a collision course two days before the Prime Minister meets President Chirac and Premier Lionel Jospin at the EU summit in Barcelona.

Downing Street, condemning the continued ban in defiance of a ruling from the European Court of Justice, signalled that Mr Blair is likely to raise the issue directly at the summit.

Signs from France were that, with a critical election there only months away, there would be no weakening. But the Prime Minister's official spokesman called on the EU Commission to ensure the French meet their obligations. If not, "they should be taken back to court and fined if necessary".