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Farming co-operative gives its backing to Journal campaign

The Newcastle Journal’s campaign for an independent public inquiry into the foot and mouth crisis has received the backing of one of Northumberland’s largest farming co-operatives.

Cheviot Farmers will be circulating the paper’s petition forms to all of its 300 members, calling for Prime Minister Tony Blair to sanction a full, impartial and public investigation into the epidemic.

The paper has been campaigning for a properly-framed public inquiry, which it says is the only way to ensure that the rapid spread of the disease, the mistakes, and the often shambolic organisation which has dogged the current crisis, do not happen again.

Managing director Bob Robinson, who founded the co-operative, said last week’s rejection by Mr Blair for a public inquiry had angered and dismayed farmers, many who had lost everything.

He said : “As a group which represents hundreds of farmers across Northumberland, we are delighted to back The Journal in its call for a full public inquiry.

“We are absolutely adamant that somebody has to give answers to the questions that have arisen from the handling of this crisis.

“But many farmers feel the Government is trying to bury this away.”

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