FMD battle being won, says Blair

The fight against foot-and-mouth is finally being won, Tony Blair said today, just days before he is expected to call the next general election.

The Prime Minister’s remarks come as the backlog of slaughtered animals was at last being cleared.

There will be ‘‘no complacency’’ as the epidemic enters its final stages, Mr Blair said in his first press conference on the outbreak.

But with the number of new daily cases continuing to fall the Government’s policy was working.

And with the carcass backlog disposed of, Mr Blair can fend off accusations of insensitivity if, as widely expected, he calls a June 7 general election next week.

Mr Blair was being joined by Agriculture Minister Nick Brown, Chief Scientific Adviser Professor David King and Chief Vet Jim Scudamore for the Downing Street press call.

‘‘It is clear that we are winning the battle against foot-and-mouth. We have the right policy. It is working,’’ he was due to say.

‘‘The trend of the disease is clear and the number of daily cases has fallen.