Following revelations that two high-profile members of the French government accepted controversial travel invitations, President Sarkozy has told ministers that they will have to take their holidays at home in future. The announcement was made at the Elysee Palace during a cabinet meeting.

Michele Alliot-Marie, the French foreign minister, has faced calls from the opposition that she step down from her position after it was revealed she had flown on a plane owned by a Tunisian businessman while the country was uprising. She has since admitted that it might have been short sighted of her to accept flights on a plane belonging to Aziz Miled, a man linked to the deposed president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Prime Minister Francois Fillon has also been criticised for apparently accepting and all expenses paid trip to Egypt over the New Year as the guest of President Hosni Mubarak. Although the PM and his family visited the country prior to the current political and social unrest, eyebrows have been raised over the fact that the Egyptians paid for him to fly internally, stay in lodgings and take a cruise on the Nile.

Although Mr Sarkozy has now announced a change in travel policy, he too has been the guest of Mr Mubarak when he holidayed with his wife in Egypt in 2007.

Mr Sarkozy apparently told his cabinet that it had to be beyond reproach if it was to keep the people’s trust. Politicians will now have to have any invitations to travel abroad authorised by the presidential diplomatic unit and the PM.