Blair meets Cumbrian farmers

22 March 2001



Blair meets Cumbrian farmers

By Jeremy Hunt in Cumbria

TONY Blair is meeting Cumbria farmers for the first time to discuss the foot-and mouth outbreak.

The Prime Minister, who was bound for Stockholm, diverted his flight to Carlisle airport for the meeting on Thursday (22 March) with local representatives.

Among those meeting the Prime Minister are farmers, National Farmers Union officials, local council chiefs and representatives of Cumbria Tourist Board.

Cumbria farmers Peter Allen and Les Armstrong were scheduled to take part in the 45-minute meeting, which was due to start at 4pm.

A statement was expected later.

Cumbrian farmers have been unhappy that apparently healthy sheep will be destroyed during a pre-emptive cull in a bid to control foot-and-mouth.

Up to 300,000 animals within a 3km radius of infected farms are set to be culled, even if they have no obvious foot-and-mouth symptoms.