Europe minister Clement Beaune said his country was in a better place because it has administered more two-dose Covid jabs than the UK. But he ignored that Britain has dished out almost 16 million coronavirus vaccines – more than five-times more than France – since starting its mass vaccination programme last year. Mr Beaune said: “The British are going faster because they have relied heavily on the first injection.

“If we take a look at the number of people who have had both injections in the UK and the EU, France included, we see that the number of fully vaccinated people is lower in the UK.

“They have relied heavily on the first dose, setting a very wide gap between the first and the second injection. And that is not recommended by our health authorities, by our Ministry of Health.”

Mr Beaune, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, proceeded to accuse Britain of risking the health of its citizens by opting to delay the gap between first and second doses.

In a broadcast interview, the French minister added: “We are cautious and we respect the recommendations of our health authorities. For example, AstraZeneca must not be used for people over 65.

“That’s not what the UK is doing. The British have taken more risks, which has allowed them to go faster

“What is happening in the UK is not something I would like to have here. It’s an strategy of massive vaccination with more risks because their health conditions are worse.”

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