The Conservatives are edging their way towards a call for the local elections in May to be postponed - and by extension any other poll, like a General Election, that might be called on the same date.

William Hague today declared that in the state of the foot and mouth crisis today, it would not be right to call elections, and that it might be wise to prepare legislation which would allow local council polling to be postponed in affected areas.

Hague: Cannot hold general election during a national crisis out of control

The Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, still maintains that it is inappropriate for politicians to be worrying about their own livelihoods when so many farmers are losing theirs.

So far the Government has remained adamant: local elections should proceed, and the timing of the general election should not be prejudiced by foot and mouth.

'National crisis'

But the Tory leader disagrees.

"I don't think it would be right to call an election at a time of national crisis out of control," he said.

"We are getting impatient about it. We have resisted many opportunities to criticise the government's approach," he added.

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 Click here to watch William Hague's statement in full

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Coming to the support of Mr Hague's view, those responsible for organising local elections in infected areas are expressing their concerns.

The Chief Executive of West Devon Borough Council, David Incoll, wrote to the Home Office last week asking for advice on the practicalities of holding a poll - and has not so far received a reply.

Quarantine

The Leader of the House of Commons, Margaret Beckett said she believed Mr Hague's was playing party politics with the crisis.

"It would send the worst possible signal to the outside world to call off these elections - namely that Britain was unable to function."

"He doesn't seem to have focussed on when you would postpone the local elections to," she said.

"It's animals that are quarantined, not people - provided people take sensible and proper precautions, people are able to move around the countryside."

But Tim Collins, vice-Chairman of the Conservative party and MP for Westmoreland and Lonsdale - one of the areas worst hit by the outbreak, disagreed.

He described Ms Beckett's comments as "terrifyingly ignorent" insisting that farmers in affected areas were either not allowed or too afraid to leave their farms.