THE government was this week accused of betraying its promise to give the British people open and accountable administration by refusing to approve a public inquiry into its mishandling of the FMD disaster.

The National Beef Association said that by doing so it had not only insulted the 9,000 farmers who had lost their stock, but at least four times as many others whose businesses were suffocated by Form D restrictions.

"When a Prime Minister goes back on a pledge to give Britain open government it can only be because he and his Cabinet know they must protect their political reputations because they have much to hide," said Mr Robert Robinson, NBA chairman who farms in Northumberland.

Livestock farmers and their families had a right to know the exact circumstances in which their livelihoods were blighted.

"We had hoped we would be told exactly how easily the virus slipped in to the UK, why it took at least 20 days to discover and why it was able to rampage so widely," said Mr Robinson.

"Unfortunately we face a cover up in which facts embarrassing to the government will be carefully hidden and only the least damaging information exposed to public scrutiny."

He said the inquiry must focus on whether or not Downing Street intervention had dramatically increased the control costs, resulted in even more horrific pictures of animal execution being shown world wide and then so overloaded vets with work that the epidemic was actually extended.

"Then its findings must be published. This issue cannot be shirked," he said. "It is no wonder Mr Blair is embarrassed. He cannot be allowed to hide his mistakes behind a closed inquiry."

l The Tenant Farmers Association also demanded that there should be no cover up following the announcement of three inquiries into FMD.

Mr Reg Haydon, national chairman, said it was vital to discover how the disease got into the country to prevent it happening again.

Many detailed points also needed to be investigated.

"Why the decision to stop livestock movements came nearly two days after export markets were closed giving the disease a chance to spread," he said.

"The mishandling of the livestock welfare disposal scheme and lack of consistent leadership from the government must also be looked at.

"There were times when it was unclear whether it was MAFF, Number 10, the army or Imperial College that was in charge.

"This will have had a major impact on the ability to control the disease and in the future consideration must be given to a new international policy on vaccination."

The TFA also expressed surprise at the large number of "single issue" groups on the Policy Commission on Food and Farming, although it has full confidence in chairman Sir Don Curry