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London: British farmers take to the streets against food imports
Photo: Henry Nicholls / AFP
Four years ago, Great Britain left the EU, and the consequences of this are still being felt today: In central London, British farmers protested against the import of food negotiated during Brexit. The farmers gathered in front of Parliament with around a hundred tractors from all parts of the country.
The farmers displayed banners with slogans such as “Support British farmers” and “Brexit is a disaster”. Many feel disadvantaged by the agreements negotiated during Brexit and criticize that food imports would endanger domestic production.
“We have had enough,” said organizer Liz Webster from the Save British Farming initiative to the AFP news agency. She denounced food imports as “inferior.” British products would be “undercut” by the import of foreign goods.
Great Britain left the EU at the end of January 2020. Since then, the UK has signed numerous trade agreements. From the perspective of many farmers, some of the agreements and the lack of import controls result in poorer quality food entering the UK from countries with less strict regulations.
A trade agreement with Canada was recently canceled due to differences of opinion. At that time, the President of the Nation Farmers' Union of England and Wales, Minette Batters, praised the British government for its refusal to allow hormone-treated beef into Great Britain: "Trade in agricultural products is always the first thing that is discussed, and that Last thing agreed upon,” she said. "I'm glad that the government stuck to its line and didn't give in."
British agriculture accounts for around 60 percent of the food consumed in Britain. However, farmers fear that this share could decrease.
In Great Britain, the House of Commons will be elected this year, probably in the second half of the year. In polls, the ruling Tories are well behind the opposition Labor Party.
eru/AFP