MP backs North-East pig farmers' protest

12.12.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 5th Mar 2008

Yesterday in Westminster Malcolm Bruce MP backed local pig farmers calling on the Government to recognise the mounting production costs which threaten their businesses.

The farmers were in London to join the British Pig Executive in delivering a 10,000-signature petition to Number 10 appealing for help from the UK Government.

Malcolm Bruce attended a campaign in Westminster to meet with local farmers in his constituency.

Mr Bruce listened to the concerns of local farmers Kevin Gilbert, of Womblehill Farm, Kintore, and Philip Sleigh, of Netherton of Mounie, Oldmeldrum as well as representatives of feed and machinery suppliers also affected, who said that in particular the soaring price of feed and unfair supermarket negotiations are leaving them losing £26 per pig leading to losses of thousands of pounds a week.

Mr Bruce, the MP for Gordon said:

"I continue to call on the Government in Westminster to accept its liability and pay compensation for the losses pig farmers have suffered from foot-and-mouth disease restrictions last year which were the result of the outbreak caused by lapses in biosecurity at their own laboratory in Surrey.

He added:

"The government should also do more to support the promotion of high-welfare British produced pig meat, increase consumer awareness and put pressure on the supermarkets to pay a fair price by introducing a compulsory supermarket regulator and code of conduct to ensure that the rights of both consumers and suppliers are protected."

ENDS