No prime minister likes to get knocked off a preferred election date, let alone be at the mercy of a disease that no one seems to be able to control. But the danger for Tony Blair is that if he presses ahead with the election, as well as the 34 county council polls, it would be viewed as another sign that Labour does not care for the countryside. Even worse, it could deteriorate into a slanging match about whether or not the election is being conducted freely and fairly in rural constituencies. Anyone can apply for a postal vote and post is being delivered to outer reaches of farms. The Tories do not have any door to door canvassers.
Rural seats are, after all, still overwhelmingly Conservative.
Unless the prime minister can hold a postponed election in June, he will probably have to delay it until October, or even later. The Conservatives, given their current poll standing, are desperate for a delay, but cannot say so publicly. There are some unwelcome events between now and the autumn that might make the electorate look at Labour in a more jaundiced light. The single biggest factor is the world economy. At present, the British economy could not be in a better position.