Ian Hudghton MEP, President of the Scottish National Party, is calling on French President Nicolas Sarkozy to take a geography lesson after he - mistakenly - failed to recognise Scotland in a keynote speech to the European Parliament, instead referring to the UK as just 'l'Angleterre'.

The MEP reacted following a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg by the French President during which he set out his policy agenda for European engagement and the future of the European Reform Treaty.

Addressing MEPs, Mr Sarkozy said: 'C’est ce que j’ai fait en déployant tous mes efforts pour convaincre l’Angleterre de signer le traité simplifié. Parce que l’Europe a besoin de l’Angleterre' or '... I did everything I could to convince England to sign the simplified European Treaty. Because Europe needs England.'

Speaking later, Mr Hudghton said

"I hope this was just a slip from Mr Sarkozy, but really it was the sort of gaffe that you wouldn't expect from a head of state. I would have hoped for better from the French President, but his comments perhaps reflect the fact that UK Ministers behave as if they represent only England in EU negotiations. Successive UK governments have betrayed Scotland's fishing communities over the years, and now Labour has signed up to a new Treaty which further entrenches exclusive competence over the CFP to Brussels.

"This incident further underlines the need for Independence, for both Scotland and England, so that there is no confusion about Scotland's interests, or about who represents Scotland in the EU."