10/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - MEP Chris Huhne has criticised Gordon Brown's statement that the British economic model is better than the European model. Quite apart from the fact it is "ridiculous" to talk of a single European model, commented the British Liberal Democrat, if the British economy is performing so well, how come last year the UK received half the level of foreign direct investment received by France or Germany? And does the UK invest a mere 16.3% of its GDP, last but one among the seven most industrialised countries? Also, asked Huhne, why has productivity improved more quickly in Germany, even though it was starting from a higher level than the United Kingdom? Huhne also points out that living standards in the UK are lower than in Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Austria and Germany.