Europe needs UK says Sarkozy

Following talks with Gordon Brown in Downing Street, both leaders paid tribute to the strength of UK-French relations as well as their own close personal bond.

Mr Sarkozy insisted he was not in Britain to "play politics" ahead of the forthcoming general election. Nevertheless, his comments appeared to be aimed squarely at Tory leader David Cameron.

"I remained convinced that the position of our British friends is bang in the middle of Europe. We need you," he told a joint news conference with Mr Brown in No 10.

Mr Sarkozy said he "regretted" Mr Cameron's decision to pull the Tories out of the centre-right European People's Party grouping in the European Parliament.

For his part, the Prime Minister insisted UK-French relations were closer than at any time since the Second World War.