Elections still on - Blair

Blair told the Commons Britain is not in quarantine

Prime Minister Tony Blair is resisting calls to postpone the local elections scheduled for 3 May against the background of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Although Mr Blair has said that he "understands" the case for postponing elections he insisted he does not want to send "out the message that Britain is closed for business" because of the outbreak.

We are, as we should be, concentrating on eradicating and controlling the disease

Tony Blair

"I understand the argument [for postponement] as long as you realise there are also voices on the other side - particularly from the tourist industry - who say 'don't send a message to the outside world that we are in some state of quarantine or the country is closed for business'," Mr Blair said.

Undertaking a string of media interviews following Conservative demands to put off the elections, Mr Blair also said people should still visit the countryside.

The 3 May date is also the Labour government's favoured choice for the next general election.

But an opinion poll published the same day also suggested that most voters were now against a May poll.

Calls for delay

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Blair told MPs during prime minister's questions that he would "listen" to requests for a postponement of the local elections.

Pressing Mr Blair on the issue, Conservative leader William Hague said a "huge range of people" had raised "real questions whether county council elections in certain areas can possibly proceed".

He asked the prime minister whether moves should be made to allow local polls to be postponed, given that "to have the option of delaying some local elections later" required legislation quickly.

Mr Blair accepted there were "voices raised on both sides" in support of an election delay, and promised to listen to their concerns.

Aim to eradicate

But he said: "We are, as we should be, concentrating on eradicating and controlling the disease.

In 1967, he said, foot-and-mouth continued for eight months.

William Hague: "Real questions" over whether elections should proceed.

Would Britain postpone elections "for one month? Two months? Six months?" he asked.

"What should be done ultimately is what is right in the interests not just of the countryside but of the whole of the country, and that is what we shall do," he said.

"It is important to weigh in the balance the question of what signal we would send if we did indeed postpone those local elections."

The tourist industry and businesses in the rural countryside needed people "going about their business as far as it is possible as normal".

People, provided they abided the restrictions in the countryside, "should go there and enjoy the countryside", he said.

If the prime minister does decide to press ahead with the elections on 3 May, he can wait until 5 April before announcing a general election for the same date.