No10: Working with Sarkozy

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were on Tuesday holding separate meetings with Nicolas Sarkozy, France's new finance minister.

Since he began work in his new role, Sarkozy has impressed the chancellor on issues such as reform of the eurozone stability pact and the need to promote economic reform in Europe.

He is also said to be of a similar mind to the Blair government on central issues of the proposed EU constitution.

The prime minister has also expressed strong admiration in private for Sarkozy, who in turn has called Blair the "foreign leader who impresses me the most".

Sources within Whitehall believe the new finance minister has a "tremendous amount of potential" and could be a future prime minister or presidential candidate.

Sarkozy first came to prominence in the UK when he worked closely with David Blunkett to secure the closure of the the Sangatte refugee camp.

He agreed the deal to close the camp following a series of bilateral meetings with the home secretary.

Deeply ambitious, he has upset some centre-right politicians who fear he is positioning himself for a bid for the presidency in 2007.

Unlike many fellow French politicians he is also see as a supporter of the US administration.