Jo Swinson backs local farmers against unnecessary legislation (North Tayside Liberal Democrats)

North Tayside Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Jo Swinson backs local farmers against unnecessary legislation

May 29, 2009 4:38 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Jo Swinson MP has called on Scottish ministers to stand up for local farmers' interests in EU discussions on sheep-tagging.

On Wednesday Jo visited Tower Farm near Torrance where she spoke to local farmer David Imrie about his views on new European plans that will require all sheep to be electronically tagged.Jo Swinson MP

The proposals have been criticised as being expensive and impractical, with opponents fearing that many farmers and crofters in Scotland will be pushed out of sheep production altogether.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have been actively campaigning this week against the new proposals - even inviting a farmer with his two ewes and their lambs to the Scottish Parliament ahead of a debate on the issue.

Commenting, Jo Swinson said:

"I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Tower Farm on Wednesday - it was great to talk face-to-face about the daily routine of farm life as well as the challenges that are facing many local farmers.

"What is so shocking about the plans for electronic sheep-tagging is that Scottish ministers have failed to adequately represent the views of local farmers and their justifiable concerns about the scheme. When they should have been applying pressure in Europe for increased flexibility in the proposals, Scottish ministers were absent from negotiations."