Swinney urges election delay

Mr Swinney said the crisis is not under control

The Scottish National Party leader has urged the prime minister to postpone the general election until the foot-and-mouth crisis is under control.

Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland, John Swinney said Tony Blair could not ask the public to go to the polls at the present time.

The nationalist leader is currently on a tour of Scotland to witness the impact the disease is having on the rural economy.

Mr Swinney also called on Scottish First Minister Henry McLeish to introduce a compensation package for Scottish businesses.

John Swinney: The PM should have no distractions

Mr Swinney said the rural economy was in "perilous danger" as the crisis showed little sign of abating.

He called for a consequential compensation package for rural businesses in Scotland, adding that Mr McLeish should follow up "warm words with concrete action".

He said: "The prime minister should have absolutely no distractions from addressing the foot-and-mouth crisis.

"And there should be no question of an election taking place unless the foot-and-mouth situation is under control. From where I'm sitting it is not under control.

"I can't see how the prime minister in all conscience, can ask the country to go to the polls at this time."

'Desire for leadership'

The SNP leader said it was important to concentrate on the impact the outbreak had on industry.

Mr Swinney said an amnesty for business should be put in place and he called on the first minister to pressurise Chancellor Gordon Brown on tangible measures for those worst affected.

Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Wendy Alexander, said that a decision regarding a date for the general election lay with Tony Blair.

Ms Alexander said the prime minister would make a decision in due course.

She said: "I just reflect that if we were a year from now, some of the people calling for delay probably wouldn't be saying 'let's delay democracy for months' and leave the government in power.

"There is a desire for strong leadership in the country and I'm not sure it's easy to get strong leadership for months and months with speculation on when a date may be."