Country Week conference is rural landmark – The Yorkshire Post says

TODAY’S staging of The Yorkshire Post’s inaugural Country Week Conference takes on extra significance because of the labour crises afflicting agriculture – and the political panic to maintain food supplies in the run-up to Christmas.
By YP Comment
Published 6th Oct 2021, 05:45 BST
Boris Johnson has been accused of failing to take seriously the plight of pig farmers who face the prospect of having to cull tens of thousands of healthy animals due to an acute shortage of butchery and abattoir workers.Boris Johnson has been accused of failing to take seriously the plight of pig farmers who face the prospect of having to cull tens of thousands of healthy animals due to an acute shortage of butchery and abattoir workers.
Boris Johnson has been accused of failing to take seriously the plight of pig farmers who face the prospect of having to cull tens of thousands of healthy animals due to an acute shortage of butchery and abattoir workers.

The regret, however, is that these difficulties, and reports that up to 120,000 pigs in UK face culling due to lack of abattoir workers, could have been negated if Ministers – and Boris Johnson is a chief culprit – were less indifferent towards rural affairs in the remaining 51 weeks of the year.

‘Out of touch’ Boris Johnson accused of ignoring the plight of pig farmers

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After all, the rural economy is a £29bn a year industry and opportunities for further growth, helping to stimulate the economy in countryside areas and enhance the security of food supplies, remain significant if Ministers heed the regional leaders and national experts addressing today’s conference.

Pig farmers protesting outside the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.Pig farmers protesting outside the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.
Pig farmers protesting outside the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

They’re all committed to a new era for farming, food and rural affairs – commitment that must now be matched by Government ministers.

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Related topics:Yorkshire PostBoris JohnsonYorkshireGovernment ministers

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