Call off the elections - end the rural crisis first

The County and Parliamentary elections should be postponed until the foot-and-mouth disease crisis is under control, Robert Key MP told Hindon Branch Conservatives at their AGM on Friday evening.

Robert said, "As I sat in the Commons this week, watching the Prime Minister, his Cabinet and the massed ranks of Labour backbenchers, I knew they just haven't a clue about the countryside, nor about the rural economy. I challenged the Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Clive Soley MP, who had said on BBC Radio 4 that the countryside is open for business. He blushed and said, "Just ask the tourist boards". Well, I have asked Tourism 2000 in Salisbury - and they and many others have described the reality of dozens of small businesses on a knife-edge of viability. Tourism in the towns is open but suffering. Tourism in the villages is on hold. We will not get back to business as usual until foot-and-mouth disease is under control. That must be the first national priority.

"Almost everywhere people are pulling together - there is almost a Dunkirk spirit and the public are sticking to the rules. However, there is another tragedy - this crisis is setting neighbour against neighbour. Old friends are falling out as scared farmers try to stop village enterprises from attracting visitors into the countryside. There are wounds opening up in our communities which will take a generation to heal. We cannot hold normal democratic elections in these circumstances.

"This is no time for the Government to take its eyes off the ball. Either Mr Blair is straining every sinew to sort out the crisis - or he isn't. He can't do both. I challenge Salisbury's Labour candidate, Susan Mallory, to join me in asking the Prime Minister to delay the elections."

PRESS CONTACT
SALISBURY 01722 782793
PAGER 07626 801674
e-mail: rob@robertkey.com