Tractor protest arrives in London

8 March 2000



Tractor protest arrives in London

By Johann Tasker

CORNISH farmer Michael Hart has arrived in London three days after setting off on a 300-mile journey in his tractor in a bid to highlight the farming crisis.

Mr Hart, a livestock farmer from St Ewe, left Truro in his Russian-made tractor on Sunday (5 March).

He arrived at Parliament Square at 10.55am on Wednesday.

“If we are going to have a long-term future, we must have short-term help” said Mr Hart, whose trip has received widespread media coverage.

Mr Hart said he had been well-supported by other farmers on his journey. About 40 tractors joined him from Bridgwater to Glastonbury in Somerset.

Two tractors driven by Kent farmers Matthew Rockell and Matthew Sell drove behind Mr Hart on the last leg of the journey to the House of Commons.

On arrival, Mr Hart was greeted by Paul Tyler, the Lib-Dem MP for North Cornwall and Colin Breed, Lib-Dem spokesman for agriculture and rural affairs.

Mr Breed said the time had come for the Government to say whether it was going to give any aid to British farmers.

“The time has come. We cannot have any more prevarications”.

“It is time to put up or shut up”.

Mr Breed said farmers were being damaged by the continued uncertainty in the sector which made it difficult to plan for the future.