The war between farmers and the government reached a fever pitch today after the top Union’s meeting with the Treasury left representatives with “boiling blood”.
The National Farmer’s Union finally met with a Treasury minister today after weeks of pleas to hear their alternative tax proposals.
It left those representing Britain’s despairing farmers in a state of fury, with the government’s attitude described as “heartless” and leaving those in attendance with “boiling blood”.
The NFU met with junior Treasury minister James Murray today to put forward alternative proposals that would still raise cash for the country’s coffers without decimating the nation’s vital food-producing industry.
However the meeting resulted in the moderate union accusing Labour of launching a heartless war against farmers, for the first time stating it is ideologically-driven.
Tom Bradshaw, the NFU President, fumed that disappointment “doesn’t describe how I feel at the moment” in his opening press conference remarks following the government showdown.
He revealed the minister opened the meeting with the dismissive statement: “I’m meeting with you because you asked to meet”, before claiming they only ever agreed to the meeting so the government could tell MPs they were engaging with the farming community.
The Government coldheartedly refused to consider any other proposals, dismissing the objections from rural communities and spitting: “We’ve considered everything in great detail but this is our most generous offer and we’re sticking with it.”
“The message from Government was clear: go away.”
Mr Bradshaw, a usually level-headed activist, said they were “really cross today” and accused ministers of simply not caring about the devastating impact the tax hike will have on farmers, their families, rural communities and Britain’s food security.
He also accused Sir Keir Starmer of being “disingenuous” when claiming the government had a choice between destroying farmers’ livelihoods and rescuing the NHS.
He warned: “I made it very clear to James Murray that this sits on his head, it sits on the Chancellor’s head, and it sits on the Prime Minister’s head.”
“They have to be able to live with these outcomes. We don’t believe it’s ‘if’, tragically we believe it’s ‘when’.
“Nobody, who’s given their life to producing this country’s food, should ever be put in that position that unfortunately they’ve been put in by this change to government policy.”
He concluded that the government’s attitude and policy are “morally wrong”.
Reacting to the NFU’s recounting of the disastrous Treasury meeting, farmer Gareth Wyn Jones accused the government of “unbelievable arrogance”.
“The unbelievable arrogance of this government and ministers is going to lead to farmers leaving the land and food shortages and food inflation.
“I never thought one party could make so many mistakes and not even understand the consequences of these decisions.
“This country will be going hungry very soon, and the poorer in society will suffer from food inflation. It’s time government understands they’ll need us before we need them.”
Conservative MP for Mid Buckinghamshire Greg Smith accused Labour of having “literally no idea about farming, our countryside and rural life”.
“You would have thought the public outcry over the family farm tax, not just from farmers themselves but virtually all supermarkets and the public, would have given them a wake up call.
But no. Labour’s war on farming and rural communities communities continues at some considerable pace. It’s unforgivable.”
Asked what the plan of action is following the unproductive meeting, Tenant Farmers Association CEO George Dunn remained hopeful and insisted: “It’s not over until the fat lady sings at the end of the day”.
He added: “The battle continues.”
Victoria Vyvyan of the Country Land and Business Association said that her accusation that the policy is being driven by ideology sparked visible discomfort from the ministers in attendance, “like I’d stuck a pin in a balloon”.
She added: “I didn’t think there was anyone in the room who knew what they were talking about. Didn’t know what profit and loss. Just there to talk about lines on a balance sheet.”
Ms Vyvyan said the aim now is to build enough public support to defeat the government with an amendment to the finance bill in October/November this year.
Tom Bradshaw appeared to discourage direct action from furious farmers, such as the scenes last week in Milton Keynes that saw the Prime Minister run away from horn-blaring tractors.
He also discouraged strikes or supermarket blockades by farmers as it would damage public support for the movement.
