Time to tell Britain to clean up its act

A few short weeks ago, Ireland was on the wrong end of a very public scolding from our peers in the EU. Despite protestations from the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, his ministerial colleagues and a large cohort of economists that the admonishment was not merited, the Commission and the Council of Ministers claimed irresponsible economic policies were undermining the Union as a whole.

Now the boot is on the other foot. As Ireland and other European states lose their "clean" status and suffer a ban on livestock and raw meat products from more than 90 markets, it is surely time to ask what is to be done with our "fellow Europeans" across the Irish Sea. Britain, increasingly, stands accused of failing to react with sufficient speed or vigour to foot-and-mouth threat. Even this week, the Prime Minister Tony Blair has urged the public not to put off trips to the countryside, where more than 500 cases have been confirmed and the disease seems out of control. Healthy animals are being brought to abattoirs through infected areas and Mr Blair seems hell-bent on holding a May election regardless of the risk. Now the disease has spread to France, the EU's largest agricultural economy, the Netherlands and Ireland. Germany and Italy have had scares and a blanket ban on EU exports has followed.

If the Commission is going to be even handed in judging irresponsible actions, it is hard to see how Britain can escape censure. But, then, maybe it's that bit easier to pick on the smaller fry.