Alliance calls for rural liberty
25 September 2000
Alliance calls for rural liberty
By FWi staff
THE Countryside Alliance has vowed to fight for liberty in rural areas, including the liberty for farms to operate without unreasonable regulation.
Speaking ahead of a food and farming cavalcade at the Labour Party conference, chief executive Richard Burge said the government must listen.
“The only time Government ministers appear to be willing to venture into the countryside is on carefully orchestrated whistle-stop spin tours,” he said.
“We have been forced once again to bring the real countryside and its key concerns to the doorsteps of Labours policy-making machine.
“This is a countryside in peril on many different fronts.”
He claimed spontaneous fuel protests earlier this month were symptomatic of the “broader desperation” felt in rural areas.
The alliance expects around 1000 people to take part in the demonstration, which will proceed along the seafront and pass the conference centre.
They will accompany a series of floats and vehicles which will draw attention to the current state of agriculture and highlight the problems caused by unnecessary red tape.
Once the alliance has finished, 250 tractors are expected to pass the conference centre in a bid by south-east farmers to highlight the state of the industry.
After the drive-by protest, organisers are expected to meet with farm minister Nick Brown to discuss the industry problems.