Inspired by French action, British campaigners say they will continue slow tractor protests after Dover roads were blocked
  • t0m5k1@lemmy.worldEnglish
    16·
    9 months ago

    I’ll just say what we all heard from the ones we know. Most brits that voted for brexit were only looking at the obvious and well discussed xenophobic benefits.

    Those of us who thought at a critical level did not vote for it.

    Now, the full shit show is being seen and felt it’s only gonna affect more, so get used to it.

    • TWeaK@feddit.ukEnglish
      8·
      9 months ago

      Aren’t these also the same people that complain when Extinction Rebellion block the roads?

  • jabjoe@feddit.ukEnglish
    7·
    9 months ago

    UK farmers were idiots to vote for Brexit. It was always going to be no change (regulation alignment) or standards drop to allow in cheaper food. They got it worse of all worlds as they are expected to maintain standards while cheap food is imported.

    • Echo Dot@feddit.ukEnglish
      6·
      9 months ago

      They were told this as well. But what they wanted was standards to drop so that they didn’t have to put in as much effort. But somehow also still get paid the same price.

      The farmers unions repeatedly warned them that this would happen. It’s 100% their fault and now they’re complaining about it. I have absolutely zero sympathy.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldBEnglish
    5·
    9 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    Farmers say there will be further French-style blockades following a slow tractor protest at Dover against low supermarket prices and cheap food imports from post-Brexit trade deals.

    Around 40 tractors and other farm vehicles blocked roads around the Kent port for several hours on Friday evening by driving slowly and carrying signs with slogans such as “No More Cheap Imports”.

    Then last week about 3,000 farmers gathered in Carmarthen, Wales, to protest, with some carrying a mock coffin with a plaque reading “In memory of Welsh farming”.

    Other campaigns have started up with similar themes, including Get Fair About Farming, which was set up last year by the founder of organic vegetable-box company Riverford, Guy Singh-Watson, with a petition debated in parliament last month.

    The Kent farmers took inspiration from their counterparts in France who blocked motorways into Paris for more than a week until the government promised extra funds, looser regulation and protection against unfair competition.

    “We’ve maintained the £2.4bn annual farming budget, which supports farmers to produce food profitably and sustainably, while protecting nature and helping to meet our net zero ambitions.

    The original article contains 650 words, the summary contains 184 words. Saved 72%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

  • 4c0cint3r3st@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    9 months ago

    Some of these farmers voted for the Conservatives and to leave the EU, so as a result they lost EU subsidies that supported the farming sector (I suppose the Tories pretended to support the UK farming sector at some point, they’ll never give them any money to support UK food security though). Unfortunately for them, their protests now are too little too late, it’s like yelling at a ship that has already sailed.