Government to publish beef report

The Government today announced plans to publish the scientific evidence on which the decision not to ban french beef was made.

The Government today announced plans to publish the scientific evidence on which the decision not to ban french beef was made.

Chancellor Gordon Brown condemed calls for a unilateral British boycott of French produce today, telling GMTV " A tit for tat war based on illegal action is in nobody's interests. The European Commission has got to act against peoople who are acting themselves illegally and that will come to a head on Thursday" Mr Brown insisted, "It's not money against safety".

A farmers' leader today accused the French government of confusing its consumers with a "tissue of lies" about the safety of British beef.

"There is no new information at all. It is a charade, a tissue of lies that has led to a stupid situation that nobody wants," National Farmers Union president Ben Gill told BBC Breakfast News.

"The sooner the French government realise that and backs down, the sooner that we can get back to normal business."

The credibility of the EU has been put at risk by the "stupidity" of the ban, Mr Gill said.

"If the French do not abide by European law, then how can you have a single European market?" he asked.

Mr Gill, who would not back mounting calls for a retaliatory ban on French products, said: "I want the British consumer to recognise the stupidity of the situation that we are in and to source their food wherever possible from non-French sources to put the commercial pressure on the French government."