Following the collapse of the climate change talks in The Hague at the weekend, the diplomatic row over deputy prime minister John Prescott's comments about the French is continuing. France's environment minister, Dominique Voynet, accused Prescott of "macho" behaviour while Prescott responded that the remark left him "gutted". The row has raised concerns that the UK's diplomatic relations with France could be damaged in the run-up to the crucial EU summit to be held next month in Nice.