Death threat made to MP

Police are investigating a death-threat to a Labour MP who had urged farmers to call off a protest rally. The message was left on the Commons answerphone of Ben Bradshaw, MP for Exeter.

He had urged farmers to cancel a march planned for today; police said it would mean the withdrawal of six officers from a month-long hunt for the killer of Kate Bushell, 14.

The regional National Farmers' Union branch yesterday decided to call off the march in view of "public sensitivities" over drawing police away from the murder hunt. Mr Bradshaw welcomed the NFU's decision, and said death-threats would not help the campaign for the ban on beef exports to be lifted.

r Jack Cunningham, Secretary of State for Agriculture, was pelted with flour and eggs last night by protesting farmers. He was arriving to record a radio programme Carlisle, Cumbria, when he was attacked by protesters in the 300-strong crowd. The farmers had gathered from farms in Lancashire, Scotland and Cumbria. Some demonstrators yelled that Dr Cunningham was "spineless Jack".