Farmers, angry at Mr Blair's handling of Britain's foot-and-mouth crisis, were barred from meeting him at an election campaign visit yesterday. Around 20 farmers brandishing banners saying "Rural Britain. Labour-free zone" were told to leave the grounds of a college in Swindon where Mr Blair was visiting pupils.
The farmers booed and jeered as Mr Blair arrived, but the Prime Minister directed his attention to the more welcoming reception party, a group of cheering young people, many of them not old enough to vote.
