Ducking the question

Date: 09/05/1996

Beef seems to be flavour of the month with everyone until it comes to voting in favour of restoring trade to normal.

Mr Fischler thinks it's fine, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl eats it on state visits to London, and now, surprise, surprise, Germany's

Agriculture Minister Jochen Borchert says he also loves beef.

But he is still playing it cagey. When asked if he would do as Kohl did and actually choose the dish if invited to dine with British Prime Minister John Major, he commented diplomatically: “I'm also very fond of duck.”