Tory's pledge to help farm disease victims

He criticised the Government for "not realising" how many businesses were suffering because of foot-and-mouth.

He said a future Conservative administration would offer relief to farmers and businesses in similar circumstances during a trip to Alfriston and Rye yesterday.

Mr Yeo added: "We have said that we will introduce interest-free loans for businesses who suffer a decline in trade. We have not said we will do this in every case but for those suffering real hardship we will do."

Afterwards, he moved on to Jellis Village Store and Post Office in Alfriston to hear how the closure of footpaths had put a squeeze on trade.

Earlier, Mr Yeo met farmers at the Wingrove Inn where he outlined four pledges to help British farmers.

He said a Tory government would be more robust on imported meat, saying: "We will apply the same principles to agriculture in Britain as we do with the motor industry by ensuring everything that comes in is checked."

Mr Yeo said there would be improved labelling on food products, a vigorous attack on red tape faced by farmers and efforts to increase their profile in European farming.

He went on to attack the Government's handling of foot-and-mouth by saying a stronger grip should have been taken much earlier to prevent its spread.

Mr Yeo also familiarised himself with Sussex cheese and millinery during the visit.

He listened to the concerns of trader Shelia Charlton, who opened Tri Corn Hats in April with husband Martin, supplying headwear for outside shows across Sussex.

Mrs Charlton, 58, said: "With the cancellation of so many shows, such as the South of England, we have seen a considerable decline in business."

Former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown called for humanity to be put back in to the NHS during a visit to Lewes.

Standing in at short notice for Charles Kennedy, Mr Ashdown pledged the Lib Dems would revitalise the NHS.

The Lib Dems promised to pump £9 billion pounds into the NHS during five years.

The money would be found from adding 1p to the basic rate of income tax, and a 50 per cent rate from people earning more than £100,000 a year.

The Lib Dems would cut waiting lists by recruiting 1,000 more doctors and nurses. They would also raise salaries for many people working on the NHS.

Mr Ashdown said: "First of all you have got to pay for this and we are prepared to put up income tax to do so."

"We will help with recruitment and retention by raising the pay of the lowest paid in the NHS because it is disgracefully low."

The Lib Dems are alone among the three main parties in pledging the increase in income tax.

Touring Victoria Hospital in Lewes, he met Neville Symonds, 76, a former professor of biology at the University of Sussex.

Speaking to Mr Ashdown he said: "I don't really want to get into politics but we want to be treated as individuals, which is the great thing about hospitals like this.

"We the people seem to be treated as pawns these days and not as real people."

Outside the hospital Mr Ashdown called for politicians to engage with the voters.

He said: "It is time we stopped treating the elector like children. You have got to realise the public do not want sticky sweets and slick phrases."

Norman Baker, defending the highly marginal seat for the Lib Dems, was a "brilliant member of parliament", Mr Ashdown said.

Some Labour and Green activists in Lewes have urged tactical voting supporting Mr Baker.

Mr Ashdown said: "People are going to use their votes intelligently to hang on to a very good thing."

Foreign Secretary Robin Cook went on a whistle-stop tour of Brighton after cancelling a visit to Hove at the last minute.

Mr Cook said Government policies were having a beneficial impact on Brighton and Hove, particularly with unemployment halved during the past four years.

Mr Cook also went with Des Turner to the Kemp Town Community Centre at St George's Church, where he met people who are part of the Celebrating Diversity project.