Behind the amiable smiles lie deep differences

Blair Meets Jospin to Restore "Entente Cordiale"

Mr Blair is proving popular with the French people, especially as he can speak the language.

The Prime Minister and his wife, Cherie, took a stroll through the village of Saint-Martin-d'Oydes, where the Blairs are holidaying, to satisfy the cravings of the French paparazzi.

Mr Blair had a private meeting with Mr Jospin where the two leaders discussed Europe and unemployment policy.

The talks followed a reception at which regional officials presented Mr Blair with a horse of the local Merens breed and a basket of delicacies.

The Prime Minister has been coming to this area for several years, but only now are the locals being asked their impression of him. It is, of course, highly flattering. "He's handsome," says one woman, "Almost more American than British. He's cool!"

Mr Blair had impressed the French since he was interviewed on TV by the country's star presenter and replied - once anyway - in French.

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"J'ai travaillé en France il y a vingt ans. Et bon, je passe mes vacances en France, j'ai plusieurs amis..." he said, with a strong Islington accent.

"We very much like the style of Tony Blair, the looks of Tony Blair," commented Sorbonne academic Jean-Claude Sergeant, "but we know very little about him as a personality. But we tend to concentrate on the policies and we find that they do not exactly tally with what we would expect even a new Labour government to implement."

Indeed, Mr Blair's relations with France's leaders are complicated. He and Mr Jospin may officially be part of the same political family, but behind the cordiality lie deep differences. In France, socialism is distinctly old Labour.

Their differences are not only political. There are rumours of personal unease between the two: Mr Jospin is older, more austere - Mr Blair, young, and easy-going.

Both sides want to scotch these rumours - this holiday encounter is intended to do just that.