East Midlands NFU planning SFP rally on 11 April

NFU East Midlands is calling on farmers in the region to join a single farm payment rally in Leicestershire next week.

The demonstration will take place at Melton Mowbray Cattle Market on Tuesday 11 April at 10.00am.

NFU’s East Midland’s regional director, Jack Ward, said: “Feeling is running high in the region and we felt that a demonstration of farmers’ anger and frustration would show the government just how badly its failure to deliver the payments on time is hitting the industry. 

“It’s not just farming businesses that are suffering because of the government’s incompetence, but the whole rural economy is feeling the knock-on effects, too.”

“Discussions with suppliers across the region have shown that the situation for many farmers is reaching crisis point,” said Mr Ward.“These companies are finding that outstanding bills just cannot be paid.”

He added: “The only answer now is for some emergency action to be taken to help farmers through this very difficult time.”

Joining the farmers at the rally will be shadow agriculture spokesman, James Paice MP and local MP Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton).

The demonstration is part of a region-wide campaign mounted by NFU to raise awareness of the government’s broken promises, which includes surveying NFU members and a letter writing campaign to MPs.