THE POLITICAL infighting took a turn towards increasing bitterness over the weekend as five more foot and mouth cases were confirmed, three in Cumbria and the rest in South Wales.

Government ministers, whether by accident or design, were accused of issuing anti-farmer statements, calling them "ungrateful" and advising that some of them should get "day jobs" and farm part-time.

This brought a backswell of anger from the industry as the number of confirmed cases rose nationally to 1947, with NFU leader Ben Gill describing them as "crass."

More cynical observers are suggesting that the increasing number of anti-farmer leaks may be part of a Government smoke-screen to deflect attention from the fact that, although at least nine separate enquiries have been set up to investigate the crisis, none will be held in public - despite Opposition taunts of a prospective cover-up.