Farmers hold tractor protest in London against ‘threat to food security’

Farmers say imports put food security and the nation’s health at risk

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  Farmers and their supporters stage a protest in Westminster near the Houses of Parliament in London during a demonstration organised by Save British Farming. Getty Images

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  Farmers drive tractors past the Palace of Westminster in London during a protest against UK food policy, substandard imports and stricter food labelling regulations. AFP

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  Nigel Farage speaks to the driver of a van taking part in a protest against the Ulez charge while ahead of him farmers drive tractors near the Houses of Parliament. Getty Images

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  Trade deals and a lack of import checks are allowing lower-standard foods into the country, one organiser said. Getty Images

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  Farmers have organised the protest over their concerns about the increasing difficulties faced by the British farming industry which they say are leaving the nation’s food security at risk. Getty Images

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  The tractor 'go-slow' is aimed at raising awareness of the difficulties for the British farming industry. PA

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  Organisers have criticised labelling that allows products to bear a Union flag when they have not been grown or reared in Britain. PA

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  A man taking part in the farmers' protest at Westminster in London on March 25 holds placards outside Parliament. Reuters

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  A convoy of farmers travelling in tractors on the A20 in Kent, heading for London to join the protest. PA

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  The convoy of farmers gathers near Wrotham in Kent before setting off for London. PA

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  A man holds a placard outside Parliament, as part of a day of protest from food growers around the world. Reuters

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  Some of the tractors that later descended on central London during rush hour for the protest. PA

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  A tractor heads for London on the A20 in Kent. PA

Up to 100 tractors and other farm vehicles have converged on London's Westminster as farmers protest against “substandard imports and dishonest labelling”, which they say are threatening food security.

The "go-slow" convoy organised by the campaign groups Save British Farming and Fairness for Farmers of Kent is driving around Westminster.

Farmers have organised the protest over their concerns about the increasing difficulties faced by the British farming industry .

They are calling for an end to trade deals that they say are allowing imports of food produced to standards that would be illegal in the UK and are undercutting British farmers.

Organisers also criticise labelling that allows products to bear a Union flag when they have not been grown or reared in Britain.

Wiltshire beef and arable farmer and Save British Farming founder Liz Webster said the situation put food security and the nation’s health at risk.

Trade deals with New Zealand, Australia, and the CPTPP deal with 11 countries including Canada, Japan and Mexico, along with a lack of import checks, were allowing lower-standard foods into the country, Ms Webster said.

British producers had also lost the level playing field with EU farmers and within the UK, she said.

Ms Webster said European farmers were still receiving subsidies, had freedom of movement for labour, and had continued access to British markets, enabling them to undercut farmers in the UK.

She said the current situation was “like going out with the English football team to the World Cup and saying ‘off you go, you’ve got chains on your legs and chains on your hands’.

"We are completely and utterly disadvantaged."

At the same time, the new English agricultural policy of paying farmers for environmental measures such as habitat creation was taking land out of food production, Ms Webster said.

“In 2019, this government was elected with a mandate to uphold our standards and deliver a ready-made deal with the EU which would see British agriculture boom," she said.

“It is now entirely obvious that they have totally betrayed us all.

“Polling shows that the public back British farming and food, and want to maintain our high food standards and support local producers.

“We need a radical change of policy and an urgent exit from these appalling trade deals which will decimate British food.”

Ms Webster criticised the government for changing its trade and agricultural policies, and then not monitoring food security closely enough.

She said the UK could have to compete with other countries for supplies.

And Ms Webster called for alignment with European regulations to support British farmers.

“It’s so important that our message about substandard imports, dishonest labelling and concerns for food security is heard," said Jeff Gibson, founder of Kent Fairness for Farmers.

“With an election looming, we want to ensure the next incoming government takes up our cause.”

Geoffrey Philpott, a cauliflower farmer in east Kent, who took three tractors to the rally, said: “I hope to be farming for many years to come, but if things don’t change, I won’t be and I won’t be employing the 14 people who work for me.

“Then we will be reliant on foreign produce that will not have the high standard of UK production.

“Once that happens, we could be held to ransom over supply and pricing.”