UK Farmers Rally in Growing Movement to Demand Action From Westminster

Farmers from the group Save British Farming drive tractors across Westminster Bridge, backdropped by the Houses of Parliament and the scaffolded Big Ben tower in London, in a protest against cheaply produced lower standard food being imported from the U.S. after Brexit that will undercut them on July 8, 2020. (Matt Dunham/AP)

A British farmer’s movement against a perceived lack of consideration from Westminster over challenges faced by the farming industry is gathering pace, after sister movements across Germany, France, Poland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the Netherlands led to mass protests and political upheaval.

Hundreds of UK farmers are now sharing videos across social media in support of a protest across Britain. Smaller physical protests have already taken place in both Wales and Scotland, with a far bigger movement brewing through a steering group called No Farmers, No Food (NFNF).

The group, which publicly launched on X, formerly known as Twitter, last week, has gained over 41,000 followers on the platform, with large accounts like that of author Jordan Peterson and TV presenter and historian Neil Oliver resharing NFNF’s content.

Time for ‘Governments to Finally Listen’

The founder of the group, communications expert and political commentator James Melville, told The Epoch Times that it was time for “governments to finally listen to our farmers.”

Mr. Melville said: “I set up No Farmers, No Food as I am from a farming background in Fife and it is an industry that is close to my heart.

“The campaign group includes many farmers and farming industry influencers. The objective is to develop effective campaigns to support the farming industry, gain widespread public support, and put pressure on governments to act in the best interests of farmers.

“Farmers are under severe pressure on a number of fronts, which in turn, risks our food security. It’s time for governments to finally listen to our farmers and act in their best interests.”

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Mr. Melville described public support for the group in the last week as “overwhelming.”

British farming unions are now turning their attention towards changing UK government policy over key issues, such reducing the rising cost of fuel and fertiliser and cutting unnecessary red tape over issues raised by net zero mandates.

In 2021 and 2022, sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused the price of natural gases to soar to record levels. This led to a significant spike in the cost of artificial fertilisers, which are crucial to maintaining crop yields.

Climate regulation is also causing widespread industry concern, as the agricultural sector faces the challenge of implementing expensive pollution-reduction strategies to achieve a net zero target by 2040.

One such instance is the UK’s Nitrates Directive, part of the European Union’s environmental regulations which the UK has continued to adhere to post-Brexit. This aims to protect water quality by controlling the application of nitrates from agricultural sources, but has led to what industry bodies claim is an unsustainable financial burden for farmers.

UK Heading Towards European Style Protests

The growing surge in unrest from UK farmers imitates the European farmers’ model of mass protests from recent years, a tactic which saw success in overturning an incumbent Dutch government and causing significant policy reversals in recent months from other national governments.

Key individuals involved in the NFNF group include farmer and TV presenter Gareth Wyn Jones, Dutch commentator and political activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek, who was instrumental in the rise of the Dutch Farmer–Citizen Movement, and many senior members of the farming community across the UK.

Mr. Wyn Jones told The Epoch Times that the government should promise to keep as much land as possible “for agricultural purposes,” after recent reports suggested that a potential Labour government could take away land for the purpose of building solar panels and clean energy.

Mr. Wyn Jones also advocated for a new political party that was “fresh” and “forward thinking,” to put farming and agricultural production at the forefront of policy.

Calls For a ‘Farming Revolution’

He added: “We have to think we are a growing population on a small island. And if we have to rely on imported food, we could be in big trouble if anything happens.

“We need a farming food revolution in this country. And we can build a better Britain on our bellies, if we invest in our children. By feeding them healthy seasonal food, we would have a massive saving of billions of pounds on the NHS, obesity, diabetes, and everything else that comes with overeating.”

Independent MP Andrew Bridgen has already lent his support to the group, with other MPs and local politicians across all parties beginning to engage with farmers over the issues they are raising.

On Thursday, footage emerged of thousands of farmers gathered in a protest blockade outside the EU headquarters in Brussels, leading to a stand-off with police and security forces, who were attempting to disperse participants with water cannons and rubber bullets.

With British farmers now turning their anger towards Westminster after Brexit, rather than towards EU regulation, Nigel Farage, the former UKIP leader and MEP, told The Epoch Times that “British farmers can no longer blame the EU.”

On Wednesday, French farmers blockaded Paris in an attempt to send their message to the French government over similar issues. Motoring megastar Jeremy Clarkson, who now owns his own farm in the Cotswolds, took to X to support their cause, saying: “French farmers. I bet no one has ever said that before, but good luck, coming from England.”