Farmers may wish to raise with Fox the point that a major cause of “farmers’ grievances” - for which she was a cheerleader - was a hard Brexit that raised trade barriers to farmers exports to the EU and left farm support payments in the hands of the Treasury, with rather foreseeable effects. - ThreadSky

georgeperetzkc.bsky.social • 100 days ago

Farmers may wish to raise with Fox the point that a major cause of “farmers’ grievances” - for which she was a cheerleader - was a hard Brexit that raised trade barriers to farmers exports to the EU and left farm support payments in the hands of the Treasury, with rather foreseeable effects.

Reposted from Otto English

Here we go. Lady Fox. Former publisher of Living Marxism and shining light in the former Revolutionary Communist Party throwing her weight behind tomorrow's protest.

Comments

mikeonlyone.bsky.social•100 days ago

Whether someone voted for/against Brexit I think the majority of people can now see what a bad idea it was, at some point the issue must be addressed and rejoining in some form is inevitable

larsfj1.bsky.social•96 days ago

There is but ONE form :

Joining ALL of the EU, the non negotiable Copenhagen Criteria

or

keep the TCA with very minor mitigations and stop complaining

jillongovt.bsky.social•100 days ago

I think the latter is definitely a Brexit benefit.. we should be able to decide the relative priority of farm support vs other demands on public spending/tax reductions. and Ministers can be accountable for the decisions we make.

dtreasure.bsky.social•100 days ago

Isn’t George’s point that HMT haven’t given a high enough priority to farm support (from the Farmers’ perspective at least) post Brexit, so that sector wouldn’t really view it as a Brexit benefit? I do also see your point though re accountability

jillongovt.bsky.social•100 days ago

Yes - but his other point is that this is a consequence of Brexit.. the point I am making is that this is a good area to be subject to domestic choice rather than have a ring-fenced budget at EU level (though agree farmers who supported Brexit without realising that would happen, were naive)

vanderstap.co.uk•100 days ago

The reason why this is a centralised EU decision is that free trade without barriers means that the playing field needs to be level. After the Brexit they voted for (and for which Claire Fox was a cheer leader, as George says) they have neither free trade, nor the same level of support payments.

georgeperetzkc.bsky.social•99 days ago

I actually agree with Jill about the *national* interest: but there isn’t much doubt that farmers lost out (and are going carrying on losing out) as a result. Fox’s difficulty is that the “farmers’ grievances” she claims to be concerned by are largely caused by a policy she vigorously championed.

paul-brennan.bsky.social•100 days ago

Given that by & large members of the farming community voted for Brexit, it’s hard to feel much sympathy for them now they’re faced with having to make a contribution to the cost of it after their death. (Though I do know a couple of staunch agricultural Remainers for whom it would be most unfair.)

stephenparkinson.bsky.social•100 days ago

I must have missed the profession box on the referendum form. I was in the industry at the time and trust me farmers were split down the middle. My father and I argued with my uncle (same farm, same education, same life experience). He sadly reached the wrong conclusion.

stephenparkinson.bsky.social•100 days ago

Myself and others wasted months, nay years, making the case to Remain on Twitter and other forums. One of the main reasons I am now an ex-farmer is that I saw no future for small family farms and needed a plan B. It gives me absolutely no pleasure to see that farmers were used as useful idiots

paul-brennan.bsky.social•99 days ago

None of it gives me any pleasure either.

alistaircaird.bsky.social•100 days ago

Fox is not a person who prizes consistency or coherence in her deeply held opinions

myshka689908.bsky.social•100 days ago

That's far too nuanced a concept for her to grasp.

peterfwest.bsky.social•100 days ago

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/brexit-blame-third-britains-food-bill-rise-researchers-say-2023-05-25/

viewfromthehills.bsky.social•100 days ago

I was waiting for someone to mention that! The farmers are upset now, but we wouldn't be in the situation we are now in if it hadn't been for large numbers of them voting for Brexit in the first place. Chickens coming home to roost!

stephenparkinson.bsky.social•100 days ago

Farmers need to be very careful who they get into bed with at this stage. We don't need Fox, Melville, Yaxley Lennon and his knuckles draggers but sadly they will turn up. Makes me feel rather sick to be honest.

gunweary.bsky.social•100 days ago

The number of ex RCP 'comrades' who are ghastly as she is - and as opportunistic - is well into double figures

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