UK: Brown puts politics above livelihoods and safety

The announcement on Sunday that all stock movements in the UK were to be suspended pending the investigation into a foot and mouth outbreak in Surrey was carried by the BBC right around the world, accompanied by a statement that Gordon Brown had "cut short" his holiday to deal with the crisis and, remarkably, that there would be no restrictions on visiting the countryside.

Therefore, it is clear that the decision to allow free access to the countryside for people and vehicles was driven by Brown personally. And it was not a slip of the tongue, for incredibly, the Cabinet Office issued a statement yesterday saying "The countryside and footpaths around the UK remain open,Gillian Merron, Regional Minister for the East Midlands, said today."

To be fair, the statement went on to say that there is presently only one farm infected, and that there is a three kilometre exclusion zone around that farm. But if that is the case, then why are farmers outside that safety zone prevented from taking their animals to market or, even, moving them across roads to their milking parlours?

And equally importantly, if those restrictions are necessary nationwide, how can anyone be expected to take fully effective precautions once they have walked across moorland where sheep roam free?

Clearly Brown has set his agenda: he will place the popularity of his party - and his chances of re-election - above the safety and livelihoods of the farming community who are, after all, unlikely to form a part of his constituency anyway.