London Farmer Protests - Project Focus

What has happened?

Monday evening saw around 70 tractors travelling slowly through London during rush hour, with slogans such as “Stop killing farming” and “Fairness to British Farmers”. The protest was organised by the Save British Farming campaign, and the Fairness for Farmers in Kent campaign. 

This is not a standalone protest with a previous demonstration in Canterbury, Kent. Rishi Sunak has responded that British farmers are at the forefront of trade deals.

Why has it happened?

British farmers chose to protest due to recent trade negotiations with Australia, New Zealand and more being detrimental to British farming, and allowing imports of lower qualities of food that do not meet the standards expected of British farming. The protestors additionally claim that agricultural policies and the Environmental Land Management farm payment scheme undermines British farming.

Comment from Liz Webster, Founder of Save British Farming

“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. 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.”

What are the specific trade deals they’re protesting?

The trade deal includes a removal of tariffs on imports from Australia, which is known to be a large competitor for agricultural products, and New Zealand.

National Farmers’ Union’s President, Minette Batters said there is little in this deal to benefit British farmers, and it seems to give Australian farmers all they asked for whilst leaving little to British farmers.

Not to be confused with the No Farmers No Food campaign

It is important to note that the protests were organised by Save British Farming and Fairness for Farmers in Kent, and not No Farmers No Food, who hold different values. The protest was largely focused on unfair trading policies, and issues with government agricultural policies. Both campaign organisers have spoken against the No Farmers No Food campaign, who mainly protest net-zero policies.

Sources

Tractors gather at parliament in farmer go-slow protest - BBC News

Farmers ride tractors into central London in major protests over trade deals - The Independent

Tractors bring rush-hour chaos to London as farmers stage protest - The Telegraph

Furious farmers shut down London with angry tractor protest - Express

Farming: Labour shortages and new trade deals - House of Lords Library

No Farmers, No Food: What is all the fuss about? - Farmers Weekly