WHY is it the French consider their own interests first and those of the rest of their so-called European partners second?

Three years after the EU lifted its unjustified ban on British beef, the French continue to put up shutters to this country's beef exports. And even though the ban has been declared illegal it is of no consequence to those behind this act of naked protectionism.

So much for the noble ideals of partnership and co-operation that supposedly form the basis of the European Union. The fact that this state of affairs seems set to continue indefinitely is bad enough. Worse, however, is the fact that the French meat industry, which has not been subjected to the rigorous safeguards now applied in Britain, continues to export cuts of beef to this side of the Channel.

France and Germany are united not only in the way they have fought bitterly to keep British beef out of their markets, but also by the complacency which they have shown towards the risk of BSE in their own animals. Even though both nations have had BSE outbreaks in their cattle, which they at first attempted desperately to conceal, there has been no attempt by Brussels to restrict the export of their beef.

While France loudly and arrogantly refuses to abide by the EU's insistence that it should admit British beef, this New Labour government makes no attempt to raise its voice in protest. Furthermore, the suggestion that Britain should impose its own ban on beef imports is dismissed as an unthinkable breach of our duties as a European member state.

Meanwhile, Tony Blair spends more time fighting against this country's farmers than standing up for them, and on a range of issues, from the single currency to illegal immigrants, remains inclined to see British interests suffer rather than risk upsetting his European partners.

Until he and the rest in the New Labour temple realise that your "fellow Europeans" see Britain not as a partner but as a competitor, Britain will continue to be easy prey for countries such as France, who are far more ruthless in protecting their national interests.

JEAN ALLISON (Mrs)