I think farmers are beginning to get a little tired of listening to the government saying how much they value farmers, wish to support them and promote economic growth. As I am constantly telling my family, “Actions speak louder than words”.
If they really value those who put the food on our tables, why are they not genuinely supporting farmers rather than putting obstacles in our way? An example of how to promote agricultural economic growth would be to concentrate their efforts on such matters as small local abattoirs to ensure they are not forced out of business and shut down.
In January, the last abattoir in Hampshire closed leaving many farmers struggling to find an outlet for their livestock. Newman’s was an independent family-run business based in Farmborough. This leaves just a handful of multispecies abattoirs in the South East meaning farmers are having to travel longer distances which is not ideal for animal welfare or is it time efficient.
As reported in the Farmers Weekly, rising operating costs including the hike in NI and small business tax, stringent regulations from the Food Standards Agency and limited profit margins are believed to have made it increasingly difficult for the Newman’s facility to remain viable.
We are fortunate to have a small family run abattoir Morley Farm, within a 15 minute drive but if that were to close which in the present unhelpful political climate is increasingly likely, I would have to take my cattle to Guildford where ABP have a huge abattoir which handles hundreds of livestock every day, but they are unable to separate specialist quality beasts from the rest of the cattle.
So, our quality Ote Hall grass fed Sussex cattle would end up on supermarket shelves, processed or as burgers. What a terrible waste of quality grass fed beef which currently makes a premium through local and London butchers and farm shops when processed through Morley Farm. Where would these outlets source their quality meat?
The previous Conservative government started to recognise the value of small abattoirs’ facilities at the heart of the rural economy, and as Christopher Price, Rare Breeds Survival Trust, pointed out, they also committed substantial funding to their future through the £4m Smaller Abattoir Fund. As he highlights, a robust and resilient local abattoir network, capable of processing small numbers of different species and breeds, is vital for the sustainable livestock sector, for the supply of local meat, recovery of rare breeds, and animal welfare.
According to the AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board), there were just 49 red meat abattoirs in England in 2023, but at least four have closed since. It is vital this government recognises the vital role they play in supporting family farms which are the beating heart of the countryside and farming community. If they don’t, someone needs to tell them.
We know the imposition of IHT will eliminate many of these farms which will either be taken by government in leu of tax or swallowed up by huge commercial enterprises specialising in ‘factory farming’. This directly due to Ms Reeves destructive Budget attacking not just farmers but also independent and small businesses. Why do Labour Governments always think they know better about how to manage enterprise, economic growth and innovation, than the private sector and individuals. Surely, they should know by now having been caught out time and time again, that they don’t.
So, what’s the solution? The industry knows it starts with recognising that farming isn’t a sideshow to tourism or a quaint relic of the past. It’s the foundation of a functioning society and farmers don’t need gimmicks or patronising suggestions to “diversify”; they need policies that support the actual business of farming. That means fair but hopefully short-term subsidies, sensible tax regimes, and investment in rural infrastructure. It means treating food production as a strategic priority, not an afterthought.
As was pointed out recently, ‘If Emily Miles who left the Food Standards Agency where she was CEO to join DEFRA as Director General last autumn, and her colleagues spent a week on a farm - not as a photo-op, but actually mucking in - they might begin to understand the depth of the problem’. Farming isn’t failing because farmers lack imagination or entrepreneurial spirit. It’s failing because successive governments have eroded its viability, all while mouthing platitudes about the importance of British agriculture. It is doubtful that any have ever ventured out of their offices let alone onto a farm.
Lord Frost is deeply concerned that Keir Starmer will return the UK to the clutches of the EU. Ever a Remainer the PM clearly does not recognise the benefits we have already gained as we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Brexit.
We recognise there are still problems, many of which predate Brexit such as immigration, a slow and unreformed public sector, the rush to net zero and growing levels of tax, spend and regulation.
But, now as David Frost tells us we have the freedom to solve these problems ourselves without having to run to Brussels asking for permission to change Vat; establish freeports; change our farming support system; reach new trade agreements; to do foreign policy deals with our old allies, like Aukus (between Australia, the United Kingdom and the united States); to change our rules on gene editing of clinical trials; to alter our animal welfare provisions; to cut tariffs on things we don’t produce ourselves; to protect the environment in our fishing grounds; to change our rules on driving licenses, the size of lorries or the cost of car insurance; and so much more. How helpful to see such examples written down so we can take them in and understand just what UK independence means.
Apparently, Keir Starmer believes it is ‘not normal’ for the UK to be free from asking permission from Brussels on how to run our country. He clearly does not recognise that the EU is in a worse financial mess than we are, but still wishes to re-tie the apron strings. He wants Brussels to negotiate the UK’s foreign policy on our behalf and also give them control over our food and drink sector.
Starmer is currently pushing a Bill through Parliament that lets the EU set our goods regulations, and we should be aware he is about to give up full control of our fishing grounds, just as we are about to grasp this freedom due in 2026 after years of quota-sharing.
The opposition in Parliament is weak, outnumbered and divided on such matters which are vital to our future. The start of our journey to restore our sovereignty, freedom and independence was hard fought for in 2016 but not since completed. Now we have a Labour party led by a weak PM who clearly has little if any regard or understanding of our history, heritage and legacy, as he is poised to revert Brexit.
I doubt this battle will be fought in Parliament, it will be down to the public who must listen to voices of people like, David Frost, Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson, Daniel Hannan and indeed President Trump who has made his view on the subject loud and clear. We must stand up for democracy and make our voices heard too.
If they really value those who put the food on our tables, why are they not genuinely supporting farmers rather than putting obstacles in our way? An example of how to promote agricultural economic growth would be to concentrate their efforts on such matters as small local abattoirs to ensure they are not forced out of business and shut down.
In January, the last abattoir in Hampshire closed leaving many farmers struggling to find an outlet for their livestock. Newman’s was an independent family-run business based in Farmborough. This leaves just a handful of multispecies abattoirs in the South East meaning farmers are having to travel longer distances which is not ideal for animal welfare or is it time efficient.
As reported in the Farmers Weekly, rising operating costs including the hike in NI and small business tax, stringent regulations from the Food Standards Agency and limited profit margins are believed to have made it increasingly difficult for the Newman’s facility to remain viable.
We are fortunate to have a small family run abattoir Morley Farm, within a 15 minute drive but if that were to close which in the present unhelpful political climate is increasingly likely, I would have to take my cattle to Guildford where ABP have a huge abattoir which handles hundreds of livestock every day, but they are unable to separate specialist quality beasts from the rest of the cattle.
So, our quality Ote Hall grass fed Sussex cattle would end up on supermarket shelves, processed or as burgers. What a terrible waste of quality grass fed beef which currently makes a premium through local and London butchers and farm shops when processed through Morley Farm. Where would these outlets source their quality meat?
The previous Conservative government started to recognise the value of small abattoirs’ facilities at the heart of the rural economy, and as Christopher Price, Rare Breeds Survival Trust, pointed out, they also committed substantial funding to their future through the £4m Smaller Abattoir Fund. As he highlights, a robust and resilient local abattoir network, capable of processing small numbers of different species and breeds, is vital for the sustainable livestock sector, for the supply of local meat, recovery of rare breeds, and animal welfare.
According to the AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board), there were just 49 red meat abattoirs in England in 2023, but at least four have closed since. It is vital this government recognises the vital role they play in supporting family farms which are the beating heart of the countryside and farming community. If they don’t, someone needs to tell them.
We know the imposition of IHT will eliminate many of these farms which will either be taken by government in leu of tax or swallowed up by huge commercial enterprises specialising in ‘factory farming’. This directly due to Ms Reeves destructive Budget attacking not just farmers but also independent and small businesses. Why do Labour Governments always think they know better about how to manage enterprise, economic growth and innovation, than the private sector and individuals. Surely, they should know by now having been caught out time and time again, that they don’t.
So, what’s the solution? The industry knows it starts with recognising that farming isn’t a sideshow to tourism or a quaint relic of the past. It’s the foundation of a functioning society and farmers don’t need gimmicks or patronising suggestions to “diversify”; they need policies that support the actual business of farming. That means fair but hopefully short-term subsidies, sensible tax regimes, and investment in rural infrastructure. It means treating food production as a strategic priority, not an afterthought.
As was pointed out recently, ‘If Emily Miles who left the Food Standards Agency where she was CEO to join DEFRA as Director General last autumn, and her colleagues spent a week on a farm - not as a photo-op, but actually mucking in - they might begin to understand the depth of the problem’. Farming isn’t failing because farmers lack imagination or entrepreneurial spirit. It’s failing because successive governments have eroded its viability, all while mouthing platitudes about the importance of British agriculture. It is doubtful that any have ever ventured out of their offices let alone onto a farm.
Lord Frost is deeply concerned that Keir Starmer will return the UK to the clutches of the EU. Ever a Remainer the PM clearly does not recognise the benefits we have already gained as we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Brexit.
We recognise there are still problems, many of which predate Brexit such as immigration, a slow and unreformed public sector, the rush to net zero and growing levels of tax, spend and regulation.
But, now as David Frost tells us we have the freedom to solve these problems ourselves without having to run to Brussels asking for permission to change Vat; establish freeports; change our farming support system; reach new trade agreements; to do foreign policy deals with our old allies, like Aukus (between Australia, the United Kingdom and the united States); to change our rules on gene editing of clinical trials; to alter our animal welfare provisions; to cut tariffs on things we don’t produce ourselves; to protect the environment in our fishing grounds; to change our rules on driving licenses, the size of lorries or the cost of car insurance; and so much more. How helpful to see such examples written down so we can take them in and understand just what UK independence means.
Apparently, Keir Starmer believes it is ‘not normal’ for the UK to be free from asking permission from Brussels on how to run our country. He clearly does not recognise that the EU is in a worse financial mess than we are, but still wishes to re-tie the apron strings. He wants Brussels to negotiate the UK’s foreign policy on our behalf and also give them control over our food and drink sector.
Starmer is currently pushing a Bill through Parliament that lets the EU set our goods regulations, and we should be aware he is about to give up full control of our fishing grounds, just as we are about to grasp this freedom due in 2026 after years of quota-sharing.
The opposition in Parliament is weak, outnumbered and divided on such matters which are vital to our future. The start of our journey to restore our sovereignty, freedom and independence was hard fought for in 2016 but not since completed. Now we have a Labour party led by a weak PM who clearly has little if any regard or understanding of our history, heritage and legacy, as he is poised to revert Brexit.
I doubt this battle will be fought in Parliament, it will be down to the public who must listen to voices of people like, David Frost, Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson, Daniel Hannan and indeed President Trump who has made his view on the subject loud and clear. We must stand up for democracy and make our voices heard too.
RSS Feed