Evening Chronicle
(Newcastle), 28.April 28, 2001

MAFF BOSSES GET A BLASTING
EXCLUSIVE
Nic Outterside

Under-fire pig farmer Bobby Waugh is not responsible for the foot and mouth disease, one of the Government's own vets today claimed.

Stuart Renton, a vet for almost 30 years, who works out of the Newcastle foot and mouth centre in Kenton Bar, Newcastle, today launched a scathing attack on his employers, the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.

He said he and many other vets working for Maff believe Mr Waugh is innocent after the Government's charge that the epidemic "probably" started on the Northumberland pig farm.

Today Mr Renton says he has seen enough evidence of 'old' F&M sores on infected sheep to convince him the disease was present in the UK long before Feb. 15th.

POLICIES
And he blasted the Government for adopting the wrong policies to deal with the outbreak. "They made our work extremely harrowing," he said.

The 50 year old North East vet's contract with the MAFF may now be on the line for daring to tell what he believes is the truth. Throughout the entire foot and mouth epidemic MAFF vets have not been allowed to speak about the crisis.

Instead any official comment has only come from MAFF press office in London, it's chief scientist Professor David King or Agriculture Minister Nick Brown.

And they have steadfastly blamed Mr. Waugh's pig farm at Heddon-on-the-Wall as the "likely source" which they say started between February 15 and 23.

But today Mr. Renton says he has seen enough evidence of 'old' foot and mouth sores on infected sheep to convince him that the disease was present long before then.

Dr. Renton said: "Long standing foot and mouth lesions are being found in sheep nationally, indicating the disease was probably present before the initial outbreak in Heddon. We are still getting pockets of infection in sheep which we cannot trace back to Heddon".

Dr. Renton has been part of the MAFF team diagnosing and overseeing the destruction of animals since taking on a case at Black Callerton, Westerhope on February 26.

He said: "Along with a number of the veterinary surgeons involved, I have serious doubts over the culling policies being adopted by the Government, which makes our work in this outbreak extremely harrowing," he said.

"And from day one MAFF has been terribly under-resourced to cope. I knew when I took on case number 10 on February 26th that we were on the edge of a disaster and it's been playing catch-up ever since."

MAFF said it was 'unfortunate' one of its vets should choose to speak to the press. "We will investigate this immediately," said a spokeswoman.

Although Mr. Renton's contract with MAFF could be terminated by his decision to speak out, the Chronicle understands it is unlikely he will lose his job because of a shortage of replacement vets.

Until today MAFF has stuck to an official line issued by Agriculture Minister Nick Brown that: "It is likely that the outbreak originated at a pig farm at Heddon-on-the-Wall in Northumberland.

But today a MAFF spokeswoman distanced the Government department from the statement and claimed it had never said the outbreak "definitely started" at Mr. Waugh's pig farm.

"We only said it was the likely source and were not pointing fingers," she said. "It is one of a number of possible sources."

Today Bobby Waugh said, "Once again there is evidence to show my farm is not to blame for the foot and mouth disease. I am now waiting for the Government to admit they got it wrong and clear my name."

Dr Renton has been part of the Maff team since taking on a case at Black Callerton on Feb. 26.

Maff said it was "unfortunate" one of its vets should choose to speak to the press. "We will investigate this immediately," said a spokeswoman.

END

COMMENT

It gives us no pleasure but some satisfaction that information we published on SilentMajority well over a month ago is now being proved right as the Press catch up.

Perhaps the press, media and MAFF might report and handle this F&M situation considerably more competently if they read the SilentMajority web site with greater dilligence!

We note that MAFF intend to ‘investigate this immediately’ no doubt they do! We expect them to spend much public time and money investigating how the leak occurred whether they will investigate and admit the truth ever is another matter!

Greg Lance - Watkins

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