THE handling of the BSE crisis by the Government is a betrayal of the people, made worse by the opposition parties who are more concerned about losing support than challenging government deception.

The Government has skilfully diverted attention from its role in spreading both BSE and CJD. Over the most dangerous three year period, 1986-89, it did nothing to address the suffering of infected cows and insisted beef was safe, an assurance shattered by the announcement that a new form of CJD has killed 11 young people.

The Government continues to insist that beef is safe and shrugs off responsibility for those years when infected offal was being eaten with its approval. All that now stands in the way of a national epidemic is the strength of the species barrier between cows and humans. It is beyond doubt that there will be more human deaths; the only question is how many.

Governments around the world have shown a sense of responsibility. But then, they are not facing an election in which they will need the votes of the meat lobby.

JULIET GELLATLEY, Founder and Director, Viva!, (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals), PO Box 212, Crewe, Cheshire.

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