Dozens of farmers drove tractors in a slow-moving convoy towards Britain's Parliament on Monday to voice their concerns over post-Brexit rules and trade deals impacting their livelihoods and food security. The protest was organized by campaign groups Save British Farming and Fairness for Farmers of Kent, with supporters driving from southeast England through southern districts of the capital to reach Parliament Square.
Unlike some European countries, the UK has not witnessed large-scale farmers' protests until now. Farmers across the EU have previously protested against bureaucratic regulations, environmental targets, and perceived unfair competition from foreign markets, which they argue are pushing them towards financial instability.
The UK's agriculture sector has been significantly affected by Brexit, which led to the country's departure from the EU's free-trade zone and agricultural regulations. While many British farmers supported Brexit due to criticisms of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, they are now concerned about post-Brexit trade agreements with countries like Australia and New Zealand, which have resulted in cheaper imports undercutting domestic producers.
Protest organizers also raised issues with labeling practices that allow products to display a Union flag despite not being locally sourced. Furthermore, delays in implementing import checks post-Brexit have raised biosecurity concerns among farmers.
Liz Webster, a beef and arable farmer from western England and one of the protest organizers, expressed disappointment in the government's actions, stating that they feel betrayed. She emphasized that public opinion supports British farming and local produce, calling for a change in policy and a reconsideration of trade deals that could have detrimental effects on the UK's food industry.
