The British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair was under pressure again today to delay elections after the Church of England's second most senior figure said the fight against foot-and-mouth should take precedence.
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Mr Tony Blair
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The Archbishop of York Dr David Hope said while the epidemic rages, Mr Blair should abandon any intention of holding parliamentary and municipal elections on May 3rd.
"Ultimately the prime minister must make his own decision, but my view is that the election ought to be postponed," the archbishop said in The Timestoday.
"There is clearly a very strong view in the farming community that there should not be an election at the moment," he said.
The Bishop of Exeter Michael Langrish put the case for a delay in stronger terms. He said in the same newspaper to hold polls would show "a further lack of understanding and insensitivity to the depth of the crisis here in the country," by the government.
Conservative Party leader Mr William Hague has already said the polls should be postponed. He said Mr Blair should concentrate on fighting the disease, not an election.
Mr Blair must announce his decision no later than Monday if he wants to hold the election in May.
AFP