TORY leadership contender Iain Duncan Smith travelled to Lancashire yesterday -- and pledged to push for a foot and mouth independent inquiry if he was elected.
Just days after rival Kenneth Clarke visited the Guild Hall in Preston, Mr Duncan Smith, who is supported by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, stopped off at Lostock Hall Conservative Club.
According to polls, he is the favourite to win control of the Tory Party, and he looked to cement that position by disassociating himself with far right policies.
He said: "I am not an extremist. I took action when I found far-right involvement in my campaign and people have nothing to fear on that score.
"My beliefs are not extreme. Some 80 per cent of Conservatives want to keep the pound. Surely scrapping our currency is extreme.
"People have become too obsessed with things which interest the Westminster press.
"Foot and mouth is an excellent example. It was controlled everywhere else, but it was pushed under the carpet because Labour wanted an election.
"That is why we need an inquiry into what happened.
"The countryside is on its knees. It is a working economy, not a theme park and Labour need to realise that."
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