British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair today signalled he would push ahead with elections on May 3, despite the growing political controversy over the Government's handling of the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
As 35 more cases of the disease were confirmed today, taking the total number to 430, Tory leader Mr William Hague again urged Mr Blair to consider postponing county council elections in the affected areas.
Mindful that such a move could have implications for the General Election - May 3 is widely believed to be his target date - Mr Blair said he would listen carefully to those urging a postponement.
But he warned to send out a signal that Britain was "closed for business" would have damaging consequences for the tourist industry, already badly hit by the crisis.
Mr Blair also found himself fighting off Tory demands for the Army to be drafted in, in far larger numbers, to help with the disposal of slaughtered animals.
It emerged today fewer than half the soldiers earmarked to help with the battle against foot-and-mouth are being used so far.
The Ministry of Defence said only 100 of the 200-plus troops requested by Ministry of Agriculture officials had been deployed. The rest remained on stand-by.
Agriculture Minister Mr Nick Brown earlier had to deny suggestions the government had kept parliament in the dark about the onset of the outbreak.
Mr Brown, giving evidence to the House of Commons agriculture select committee, was responding to claims that timber merchants were approached by Ministry of Agriculture officials about wood supplies for incinerating animals two weeks before the outbreak became public knowledge.
Despite confirmation of the latest cases, Mr Brown told the select committee that the virus was under control - in the sense that movement restrictions had been imposed. The disease was not being spread by the movement of animals, he insisted.
PA