Government defends containment policy

Evidence mounts that animal burials are dangerously slow

In the House of Commons today, the Prime Minister derided the Conservatives' suggestion of creating another committee to tackle the foot and mouth outbreak.

According to Tony Blair, the government's policy of containment was working.

But despite protestations from Government that the strategy was working, evidence was mounting that the measures imposed were not being implemented.

While the army were keeping up their side of the bargain - to slaughter animals within 24 hours of notification, and to dispose of carcasses within the next 24 hours - vets were said to be lagging behind.

Army today began digging mass trench for 500,000 animals

All this was adding to growing speculation as to the date of the election. Some commentators were advising Blair to postpone the 3 May date, in order not to antagonise the countryside, while others were pressing him to go ahead, for fear of losing ground in the meantime.

PM spoke to Tom - now Lord - McNally about his time as James Callaghan's special adviser when, in 1978, Callaghan deferred the election and paid the price. He told us, it's the loneliest decision a Prime Minister has to make.