This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-politics-16222988

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
French finance minister criticises UK economy French finance minister criticises 'worrying' UK economy
(40 minutes later)
French Finance Minister Francois Baroin has become the latest senior figure in Paris to criticise weaknesses in the British economy. Finance minister Francois Baroin has become the latest French figure to allege weaknesses in the UK economy.
It comes after the chairman of the French central bank suggested the UK's economy should be downgraded - ahead of France - by ratings agencies because the British economy was weaker. It comes a day after the chairman of the French central bank suggested the UK's credit rating should be downgraded - ahead of France.
There is speculation France could lose its own triple-A credit rating. Mr Baroin said: "The economic situation in Britain today is very worrying."
UK officials will join talks despite not signing up to the eurozone pact. Downing Street has said the coalition has a credible plan for the economy. Meanwhile UK officials are to join continuing eurozone talks.
Europe correspondent Matthew Price says there has been an astonishing series of attacks coming out of Paris. Britain will be involved despite Prime Minister David Cameron's veto of an EU-wide treaty change involving all states.
Our correspondent says French officials are smarting from the expected imminent loss of their cherished AAA rating.
'Rather be French''Rather be French'
Mr Baroin told Europe 1 radio on Friday: "The economic situation in Britain today is very worrying, and you'd rather be French than British in economic terms." France has been warned by US credit ratings agency Standard and Poor's that it could lose its triple-A credit rating over the eurozone crisis.
Downing Street downplayed the remarks, saying: "We have put in place a credible plan for dealing with our deficit and the credibility of that plan can be seen in what has happened to bond yields in this country." But Mr Baroin told Europe 1 radio: "The economic situation in Britain today is very worrying, and you'd rather be French than British in economic terms."
On Thursday, the chairman of the French central bank, Christian Noyer, suggested that any downgrade should instead start with the UK "which has more deficits, as much debt, more inflation, less growth than us".On Thursday, the chairman of the French central bank, Christian Noyer, suggested that any downgrade should instead start with the UK "which has more deficits, as much debt, more inflation, less growth than us".
But France has been warned by US credit ratings agency Standards and Poor that it could be downgraded over the eurozone crisis. Downing Street downplayed Mr Noyer's remarks, saying: "We have put in place a credible plan for dealing with our deficit and the credibility of that plan can be seen in what has happened to bond yields in this country."
David Cameron vetoed an EU-wide treaty change involving all states and faced claims it would leave the UK isolated. And a spokesman has rejected suggestions Mr Cameron has been agitating against the eurozone agreement - after the PM spoke to his counterparts in non-eurozone countries this week.
All EU states apart from Britain are considering signing up to the agreement, which aims to introduce closer fiscal integration in the eurozone with tougher rules on debts and deficits.
The No 10 spokesman said the PM's aim had been to make clear that the UK wanted to "engage constructively" in talks.
Mr Cameron has also denied claims that relations with French President Nicolas Sarkozy have been strained by his refusal to sign up to the EU-wide treaty last week.
BBC Europe correspondent Matthew Price says there has been an astonishing series of attacks coming out of Paris.
He says French officials are smarting from the expected imminent loss of their cherished AAA rating.
'Train crash'
Andrew Tyrie, Conservative MP and chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, said the remarks by senior French figures were "a reflection of the great nervousness around".
"We have been watching the slow-motion train crash about to happen for some time," he told BBC Radio 4's World at One.
"The plain fact is we have all got an interest in seeing an orderly resolution in all this.
"Trying to distract attention to other countries' problems is not going to help anyone."
Liberal Democrat Sharon Bowles, chairwoman of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, said countries should avoid criticising each other.
"I think, to some extent, [it's] a little bit of a retaliation, a little bit of a spat because they (France) want to defend their rating - or if it goes they want to say, 'Look there's a lot of us in the same boat,'" she said.
"But we ought to try and be more positive and swim together rather than sink separately."