Shropshire Farming Talk: Reflections on a peaceful demonstration
Just over a week has passed since 10,000 farmers, from Dorset to Doncaster, descended upon Westminster to get their voices heard.
Despite the logistical adjustments to the planned march, and snowy conditions, the passionate protestors representing our industry certainly did us proud, making national headlines across the board.
As part of the peaceful demonstration, over 6 and a half tonnes of homegrown British produce was donated to London food charity, City Harvest, providing more than 15,000 meals to people who need them.
Every news outlet picked up on the poignant photos of farming kids quite literally ‘pedalling for our future’ as the banners said, in front of Big Ben – depicting the very generation the proposed changes will affect.
Even the Met had compliments for the event, remarking that ‘it would be brilliant if farmers could organise every protest we police’ .
So, farmers have let the government know that we won’t lie down and accept the new policy threatening to decimate family farms.
And hopefully garnered further public support for food producers in the process.
But, what happened next? Has it done enough to make a mark?
Well, Rachel Reeves is still keeping a low profile.
But on Monday, NFU President Tom Bradshaw, who spearheaded the mass lobby in Parliament last week, was summoned to meet the Prime Minister – or ‘Starmer the farmer harmer’ to some.
In this a 1-2-1 meeting at Number 10, of course, the ‘family farm tax’ was top of the points for discussion.
Mr Bradshaw debriefed NFU members that he’d been able to present the farmers’ side of discussion on the real impact of APR (agricultural property relief) changes.
We were reassured that the PM was ‘in listening mode’, with some hope still holding out for action on what he’d heard.
In the meantime, the Scottish branch of the NFU is urging all those above the border to come out in force for a rally at Holyrood this week, ahead of the Scottish government’s own Budget announcement.
We’ll see what the Scots have to say, and whether any U-turns come to fruition down in Westminster.
If not, there are still many rumblings amongst farmers about ‘going French’ to take things to the next level with strike action.
I’m not sure how much of a positive move that will be – there’s a danger British farmers will be the only ones who lose out in income, if the shelves are simply refilled with imported goods. That seems all too easy these days!
But, if it doesn’t happen, there is a danger of losing momentum, air time, and any attention in the minds of decision-makers if the fight-back fizzles out.
Meanwhile, a petition calling for a general election has surpassed two million signatures – maybe some farmers on that list but I expect the vast majority are non-farmers!
by Laura Yates, a farmer from Bridgnorth
