We shall rue the Government’s treatment of farmers
Last updated 09:51, Friday, 25 July 2008
THE excellent Agenda article on the current high cost of fuel provided much food for thought (The Cumberland News, July 11).
The comment from Ian Pearson about politicians being badly advised and adopting out-of-date policies which take decades to change is so true. Blame can be laid at our masters’ doorstep as they are only really interested in short-term, vote-catching policies.
The present Government has had 11 years to ensure the three most important requirements for a nation; food, energy and defence security.
It has failed in all three areas and this is now fast becoming a most dangerous situation as all three are connected.
Because this Government hates anything rural and regards farmers as toffs and wealthy landowners, it has consistently adopted policies that have seriously damaged our agricultural industry.
This has led to a huge exodus of farmers.
It was recently reported that if the annual number of farmers quitting the land continued at the current rate, then by 2035 we will have none.
With a world shortage of food and many countries clamping down on their food export in order to feed their own population, it is utter madness for Gordon Brown to say; “We are a rich nation and can import all our needs”.
We now import 40 per cent of our food. Brown and his ministers cannot see that by increasing food production in Britain we could reduce transport costs.
The Labour Party hates nuclear power and has known for 11 years that our old power stations needed replacing, but done nothing. Unless new power stations are built quickly, the lights will soon be going out.
The Government has also starved the armed forces of money, yet expected them to fight wars in various parts of the globe, when badly and inadequately equipped.
No wonder numbers are dangerously low as many of the trained personnel leave and there is a shortfall in new recruits.
There are now too few to fight another war, just at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East and threats of more terrorism here.
This Government has wasted £1,229,100,000,000 (more than a trillion pounds) and is almost broke which is why we are being taxed ever more and will be paying for the Brown profligacy for decades.
SUZANNE GREENHILL
Parkside Avenue
Cockermouth
