Leader: Farmers forced to take action
It was only a matter of time before the frustrated farmers brought direct action in furtherance of their campaign for justice home to the rural heartland of Shropshire.
It was only a matter of time before the frustrated farmers brought direct action in furtherance of their campaign for justice home to the rural heartland of Shropshire.
Credit to the farmers for their relatively measured response in desperate times. The blockade at Muller and Wiseman’s Dairy at Market Drayton has created a stir, ruffled some feathers, and grabbed attention.
While action which causes economic damage cannot be condoned, we can empathise with the farmers in their feelings of desperation.
Talking and reasoned debate have elicited perfunctory nodding and expressions of sympathy, while the underlying problem remains unresolved.
In those circumstances it is little wonder that the farmers have looked for more dramatic ways to highlight the issue.
David Cameron can find time to praise the glorious feats of Bradley Wiggins but when it comes to a fight for survival in a whole sector of the agricultural industry he is looking the other way. It is time that he said what he thinks – and if he is not thinking about the issue at all, then it is time that he started to give it some of his attention.
Perhaps he considers it all a matter of market forces at work and not really something a Prime Minister should involve himself with. And it is not one of those nice touchy-feely metropolitan causes which generate chatter among the London opinion formers at their local wine bars.
It is as if he does not want to get his smart tailored suit besmirched by championing a rural issue.
Experience has shown that to be effective, the countryside lobby has to bring its fight to the feet of the politicians.
Mr Cameron should take the initiative. This is not a countryside issue that is going to go away.
Comments for: "Leader: Farmers forced to take action"
The Original Jake
Cameron championing the farmers? Ha!
I can almost hear the words being muttered in the City by the 'Big Four'... "It would be most unfortunate if our company had no choice but to withdraw support for your party..."
BK
The difference between banks and farmers is that banks are not subsidised by the state/europe to carry on with their business, any money given to them has to be paid back.
John Howard
If It had been trade unionists blockading a company they were in dispute with I doubt whether the article would have been so supportive. Lets have some consistency, these farmers are acting in a way that would be slammed by the Tories if it involved workers rather than their traditional supporters.
nh
for habitual Tory voters the farmers don't seem to like capitalism very much do they?
Can't wait to see them all out supporting the workers in town and cities over the coming months when they try to protect their livlehoods, will the Star write editorials about them too?
dairy farmer
BK:Again the subsidy talk!most farm subsidies are less than if the family was on welfare benefits.Please take them away and you would see your supplies of all food shrink , we were blamed for inflation last year think what effect loss of food production would create. Wasn't it European leader who claimed England was just an insignificant island ,which means imports are going to be very expensive if they send you any. Duh !