Mass rally aiming to add to pressure for ‘fair play’
Proposals for the mass rally intended to press home the need for the government to ensure fair play for UK farmers in any trade deal negotiations are gathering pace, with thousands of farmers expected attend a major showcase event in London in March.
Despite recent assurances from Westminster that the government would not allow imports of food produced to standards that would be illegal in the UK, the farming sector has yet to be convinced by the undertakings which have been given – and have proposed a day of action to make the strength of feeling known.
The mass rally, organised by the English NFU, will take place on 25 March at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster, and will bring together farmers, consumer representatives and experts in animal welfare and the environment, in a show of unity backing the future of British farming.
And yesterday NFU Scotland president Andrew Mccornick said that the farming industry from north of the Border would be well represented at the event – and revealed that other “consumer-facing” events to tell the story behind Scottish food would be organised in Scotland for farmers to become involved in later in the year.
“These are pivotal times for Scottish farmers and crofters. The weeks and months ahead will see a raft of decisions taken that will define our role as food producers and custodians of the land we live and work in,” said Mccornick.
“As we determine our post-cap future as well as trading arrangements 2 English NFU chief Minette Batters said farmers must put pressure on the government over food trade deals
with the EU and the rest of the world, it is crucial that politicians recognise and preserve the outstanding standards being upheld by our farming sector.”
English NFU president Minette Batters said nothing would be more crucial for the industry than how the government shaped trade deals with the EU and other countries around the world.
She said that all sectors of the industry were “crystal clear” that the government had to hold the line that they would uphold British farming’s high standards in trade deals and, crucially, hold imports entering the country to that same standard.