The British Prime Minister has called for reform of Europe's common agricultural policy

The British Prime Minister Tony Blair says reform of the Common Agricultural Policy will be a key objective during Britain's six-month Presidency of the European Union starting on January 1st.

He described the current policy of guaranteed farm prices as madness, and said Britain would seek the support of EU member governments to cut costs.

But he warned that, if the reform programme was blocked by countries with powerful vested interests, he was prepared to appeal directly to European consumers for support in a drive to cut costs.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service