Euro-MP Offers to Cook For President Chirac

4.18.55pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Jul 2005

Following comments by President Chirac that British food is the second worst behind Finland, West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne said Chirac was trying to pick a fight with the UK to gain popular support at home.

"It does baffle me that if the French Government thought British food was so bad why they felt the need to ban their citizens from buying British beef for so many years? Surely if it was that bad they wouldn't buy it. If he really thinks that British Food is bad then I am happy to cook some British beef which I am sure will change his mind. The truth is Chirac and the French people know that British Beef is the best in the world and we now have some of the best chefs in the world.

"Following the rejection of the Constitution by the French people based partly on their reaction to Chirac's leadership, he has tried to pick as many fights with the UK as possible to gain popularity. From the EU budget, to the Olympic bid, now our food. I am sure following his comments, the chefs at Gleneagles have prepared something special for him."

ENDS

Chirac: "After Finland, it (UK)is the country with the worst food."