Virus hell not over yet – Gill

30 May 2001



‘Virus hell’ not over yet – Gill

By FWi staff

THE foot-and-mouth crisis has been “100 days of sheer hell” for farmers and its not over yet, farm leader Ben Gill has warned.

Mr Gill, National Farmers Union president, said cases of foot-and-mouth were still occurring daily, and new hotspots showed how critical it was for farmers to keep up their guard.

“I urge all farmers, farmworkers and contractors to continue maintaining stringent disease control measures to get this disease stamped out once and for all,” he said.

“There is no room for relaxation or complacency. We will not rest peacefully until several months have elapsed since the last case.”

Meanwhile, during a tour of the north-west countryside Tim Yeo, shadow agriculture minister, accused the Prime Minister of ignoring the continuing spread of the disease.

“Why is Tony Blair running scared of facing up to this crisis?” he asked.

“Why is he refusing to commit his party to implementing a public inquiry into the mishandling of the foot-and-mouth crisis? They must have something to hide.”

Mr Yeo said he had spoken to farmers who were convinced that a mass slaughter programme had been planned by the Government to start after polling day.

“Those affected by this new outbreak are falling victim not only to a crippling disease, but to an uncaring Governments determination to put the General Election first in the hope that we will forget a 100 days of ignorance, mismanagement and incompetence,” he said.

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