UK: FRENCH PRIME MINISTER JOSPIN & TONY BLAIR VISIT SEDGEFIELD

(24 Jul 1998) Eng/French/Nat

In what resembled a summer activity camp, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has treated his French counterpart to a tour of his Sedgefield constituency in County Durham.

Blair gave Lionel Jospin a personal tour of his Labour heartland on Friday, meeting local schoolchildren and community leaders, before stopping off at the local pub for lunch.

Congratulating Jospin on France's victory in the 1998 World Cup, Blair also unveiled a "footballing bridge" between the two countries - by inviting French football-mad youngsters to watch British football at its best.

Since becoming prime minister, Tony Blair has extended warm welcomes to scores of international leaders.

But French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin is the first to be invited into the heart of Blair's Sedgefield constituency in County Durham.

During their flight to the heart of Labour country, the prime ministers discussed a range of issues - monetary union, domestic and foreign economics, the German elections and the ongoing British beef ban.

First stop on the politicians' tour around Sedgefield was the Rainbow Fun Club in Trimdon Colliery Community Centre.

They swapped politics for paint brushes, painting the faces of two local children with their respective nation's flags to promote a new era of partnership between the two countries.

Football featured strongly in Friday's schedule with the pair taking to a local football pitch to prove how the game can bring people from different cultures together.

Blair congratulated Jospin on France's victory in the 1998 World Cup and announced plans to invite French youngsters to Britain to watch top football clubs in action.

Under the plan, youth teams from French cities which hosted England and Scotland games during France '98 would be invited to visit major clubs in England and Scotland.

The young French players will be invited to watch Premier League teams in action, attend top-level coaching sessions and meet stars from teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Celtic and Rangers.

Both Blair and Jospin said the "football bridge" proposal was designed to cement strengthening relations between the two countries.

After their "pitch-stop", Blair and Jospin made the short walk across the playing field to the British prime minister's home, Myrobella, where they held private talks.

Afterwards, the two leaders addressed the media in the garden of Myrobella.

Refusing to answer questions about a possible cabinet reshuffle, Blair instead sympathised with British firms suffering from the strength of the pound.

However, he warned that the worst thing for British business would be a return to the boom-and-bust years of the Conservatives.

He added the government's current policy was the right one for the long term stability of the economy.

Both leaders were eager to demonstrate the close relationship between their countries and similarities in their respective domestic and foreign policies - and governments.

SOUNDBITE: (French)
"Europe has ruptured away from the years of neutral liberalism - the Reagan-Thatcher years. This approach to modernity looks for a way between efficient economic performance and social justice which the people want at the moment."
SUPER CAPTION: Lionel Jospin, French Prime Minister

Blair's French skills were in fine form.

SOUNDBITE: (French)
SUPER CAPTION: Tony Blair, British Prime Minister

On a final note - Jospin's lunch menu - the French leader gave British beef the thumbs up.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I will eat English beef if ever you offer - with pleasure."







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