Blair set for election sacrifice to fight foot-and-mouth

Tony Blair is set to sacrifice his May 3 general election as he battles to bring the foot-and-mouth outbreak under control.

The Prime Minister appears poised for a June 7 poll after a string of Ministers publicly backed a short delay to next month's local elections.

He is expected to announce emergency legislation to achieve that, ending plans to go for a May 3 general election as well.

But Cabinet Ministers have reportedly told him not to wait beyond June 7, a warning publicly voiced by influential GMB union boss John Edmonds.

Conservatives accused Mr Blair of dithering and challenged him to name the general election date and end uncertainty at a time of national crisis. Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has also urged Mr Blair to declare his hand.

Those calls came after The Sun and the BBC said government sources told them of the change of plan.

Downing Street, insists the reports are speculation.

But there is no suggestion it was inaccurate as senior ministers, including Home Secretary Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and Trade Secretary Stephen Byers, argued that a short delay would not damage tourism.

Ministers have previously said postponing the local polls would send out the wrong message and some Cabinet members are said to be furious at the delay.