Farmer pickets turn away extremists
12 September 2000
Farmer pickets turn away extremists
By FWi staff
FARMERS picketing an oil refinery in protest at fuel prices turned away far right extremists who offered their support, reports The Times.
Richard Haddock of the Farmers For Action (FFA) group told the newspaper that co-ordinators were on the lookout for extremists seeking to hijack protests.
He said three National Front members who turned up at the Stanlow blockade in Cheshire on Monday (11 Sep) were asked to leave by farmers.
In its coverage of the fuel crisis The Guardian considers the background of FFA, a driving force behind protests.
The group, which believes the National Farmers Union is out of touch with grassroots members, claims to have 5,500 supporters, says the newspaper.
It is headed by a committee of 12 rather than having a fixed leadership.
The Times says FFA regional co-ordinators can swiftly mobilise support by telephone, fax and email.
Close links between farmers and hauliers helped co-ordinate the action, it reports.
The Guardian says a looser alliance in north Wales was partly responsible for the protest at Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire last week.
The Daily Telegraph speaks to Welsh chairman Brynle Williams who denies masterminding the blockade.
He says he was catapulted into the forefront of the campaign after a meeting of farmers and hauliers in St Asaph last week.
- Fuel protest could hit animal welfare, FWi, 12 September 2000
- Scots set to join fuel protest, FWi, 11 September 2000
- Fishermen to join farmer fuel protests, FWi, 11 September 2000
- The Guardian 12/09/2000 page 1 and 2
- The Times 12/09/2000 page 4
- The Daily Telegraph 12/09/2000 page 5