Breaking news: UK farmers to take to the streets
Well, I’d hate to be the one to let the cat out of the bag, but apparently UK farmers are going to take to the streets in their thousands sometime in the coming months in a concerted attempt to get the message across to the new government – of whatever colour – that the countryside matters.
The plan seems to be to hold demonstrations – no, sorry, scrap that – rallies around the country on the same day to highlight the contribution which agriculture makes to both the British economy and the environment.
In a letter that to NFU Scotland members at the weekend, the union’s president said that a much more robust acknowledgement of the importance of the farming and crofting sectors was required from the political classes – and that consumers should have a better appreciation of the industry which they relied upon to put food on their tables:
“This may be the time to take this message beyond the farm gate and into the streets and towns of the entire UK and make a new government appreciate how important a part we play in supplying affordable, safe, traceable, nutritious food and highlight the environmental credentials and public goods that are integral to this,” wrote Mccornick.
He said that all the UK farming unions had been holding tentative discussions on this and what course should be taken for a show oif unity and strength.
But what format should such a PR exercise take?
Mccornick is right in saying that it should give a positive impression of our industry to get the public – our consumers – to buy into the message and to influence all governments of the importance of Scottish and UK agriculture and the need to get a proper market return.
And crucially, against the background of secret negotiations to get an early trade deal with the US, he added:
“That message also includes not introducing damaging trade agreements post-brexit with less exacting standards, undermining our ability to provide safe sustainable food with higher environmental credentials.”
So there’s a lot at stake here – and while French farmers who take to the streets at the drop of a beret seem to be able to do so in the expectation that their public, well used to such eventualities, will forgive almost any inconvenience, the great British public are likely to be slightly less accommodating.
And therein lies the dilemma – deciding just what form a rally should take – and the UK unions have, as of yet, reached no conclusion on this one.
So while we can probably discount the tyre-burning, street-blocking antics of our Gallic cousins, should we be marching through the streets of our capitals or seeking to replicate the sort of tractor convoy which has been gaining a good deal of attention in Germany and in Holland in recent weeks?
Or should the industry adopt a more targeted approach of handing out samples of food to the public and taking the time to highlight the big difference between what farmers get paid for their produce and what consumers have to fork out for it at the supermarket – whilst explaining the high standards and environmental benefits which UK producers work to when providing this sustainable life necessity called food?
Having been on some of the rare rallies or protests as a foot soldier in the past – from handing out leaflets in Perth High Street to blockading lorries at Stranraer – in the past there’s no doubt that these events engender a feeling of commonality of cause and even an element of esprit de corps for at least having done something rather than suffering the constant frustrations of passivity.
But while you might question the approach taken by groups like Extinction Rebellion which focuses on nonviolent civil disobedience and creating maximum disturbance to everyday life for normal citizens all the way through to the icily focused approach taken by climate activist and media darling, Greta Thu nb erg, one thing which a successful approach cannot do without is raw passion for the cause.
Okay, we don’t want to reduce a serious political issue to the impassioned but blinkered “I’m right and you’re an idiot” level – but maintaining fervour will be key to success.
And although putting the idea out for consultation around the union’s branches and regions might get everyone involved, it’s going to be important to avoid sapping the spontaneity and infectious enthusiasm necessary to see the industry’s message put over successfully.