Shadow ministers first outing

2 October 2001



Shadow minister’s first outing

By FWi staff

TORY MP Ann Winterton will undertake her first official engagement as Shadow Agriculture Minister at this years Dairy Show in Somerset.

Mrs Winterton, MP for Congleton in Cheshire for 18 years, will visit the Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, on Wednesday (3 October).

She said she felt that it was important to get out into the countryside, meet farmers and hear their concerns first-hand.

Mrs Winterton pledged to maintain pressure on the government to promote British food and stop cheap, low-quality imports entering the country.

“Unless British farmers receive a fair return for the food they produce to enable them to run viable businesses, then there is no hope,” she said.

Hundreds of dairy producers are expected to attend the show, even though the foot-and-mouth means there will be no cattle.

But show organisers said there would be more seminars and workshops than ever before. There are expected to be trade stands from 180 business.

Coping with the aftermath of the foot-and-mouth crisis will be among many topical subjects on the agenda for talks and discussion.

Dairy Show chairman Edwin White said farmers were desperate for life to regain some normality and start looking to the future again.

“Although we will miss seeing the very best of dairy livestock this year, milk producers need to find out what is happening in their industry.

• Pro-hunting MP is Tory farm shadow, FWi, 18 September, 2001