An isolated case of foot in mouth disease, which can be laid squarely at Downing Street's door, has signalled another clobbering of the multiples. It was a routine evening with West Country Labour Party supporters. Yet the Prime Minister's off the cuff comment at a Gloucestershire agricultural college that supermarkets have the farmers in an armlock could linger long after the foot and mouth disease crisis. Put in the context of the Competition Commission report which revealed that more than 60% of suppliers described their relationships with supermarkets as "excellent" or "good", and only 5% as "bad or poor", the unscripted comment was all the more startling. So the PM should not be surprised that the cynics, knowing there's an election in the offing, and that there's a need to chuff up the rural voters, put the whole thing down to the spin doctors. But, more ominously for the big chains, the remark has resurrected the rip-off in grocery claims and sent a motley collection of broadcasters with private agendas, uninformed hacks and campaigning rural spokespersons into a frenzy which is designed to demonise the supermarkets. We've even been treated to the daft notion that the satanic multiples are solely to blame for foot and mouth disease. Something the PM certainly did not suggest. When this terrible outbreak is over there must obviously be a full inquiry, and that investigation will inevitably look at the way we produce and distribute our food in this country. No one in the grocery business should have a problem with that. What is more ominous is that, once again, the chains are being condemned as guilty of a series of transgressions before the hearing begins. This magazine criticised the multiples and some industry organisations for their pathetic response to initial charges in the Competition Commission inquiry. Judging by the events of the past seven days, they will need to be much stronger this time around. Clive Beddall, Editor {{OPINION }}