Its the only way to find out the truth
Its the only way to find out the truth
By Mike Stones
ONLY a public inquiry will reveal the truth about the origins and handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis, warns Shadow Lord Chancellor and RASE member of council Lord Kingsland.
"None of the governments three independent inquires is obliged to publish the results of their investigations. Also none of the chairmen have the power to require government ministers and civil servants to give evidence," Lord Kingsland told farmers weekly.
"It has taken a very long time to get on top of the foot-and-mouth outbreak and it is very important the public finds out why and where the responsibility lies. It would be disastrous if the experience was repeated," he said.
Nearly 20,000 FW and FWi readers share Lord Kingslands concern about the governments independent inquiries. Support for our campaign for a public inquiry continues to stream into our office by post, fax and e-mail.
"This is the most successful campaign we have ever conducted," said FW Editor, Stephen Howe. "It shows the depth of concern in the countryside. The governments inquiries are fatally flawed. Only a public inquiry will deliver the truth about this devastating disease outbreak and identify the undoubted mistakes that were made in its handling," he said.
Those concerns are not just confined to the farming community. So far, nearly 80,000 further pledges of support have been collected from rural and urban areas of the south-west, west and north of England by The Western Morning News, Western Mail and The Journal in Newcastle in association with the readers of Horse&Hound magazine.
If you have not yet signed our petition, please fill in the form opposite to make your voice heard. Also, why not ask friends and neighbours to lend their weight to calls for the public inquiry that rural Britain wants, needs and deserves? *
Dear Mr Blair,
Since you have taken a personal interest in the tragedy that is foot-and-mouth and, at one point, direct control of its handling, please make a firm commitment now to hold a full public inquiry into the F&M crisis.
As you are well aware, the epidemic has caused untold anguish within farming and rural communities, taken millions of animals lives and has cost our economy billions of £s.
For the sakes of those who have lost everything, even loved ones, please give them the consolation of knowing now that you are committed to a full, robust public inquiry.
After the carnage that has unfolded in our countryside, how could you deny such a request?
We look forward to speedy confirmation of your decision.
Yours sincerely,
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Please return your letters to Inquiry Please, farmers weekly, FREEPOST (CN 2908), Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5BR.
Should you wish to withhold your address, please sign the letter and attach your address on a separate sheet.