Editorial: Minister Andrew Muir should withdraw his unfounded attack on the Ulster Farmers' Union

Andrew Muir should withdraw his attack on the Ulster Farmers’ Union, in which he accused the organisation of “targeting officials” within his department.​

The under-pressure farming minister came out fighting on Friday, telling people “to wise up and calm down”. That is advice he could do with heeding himself.

Until now, the Alliance minister has remained relatively composed in the face of a growing effort to lay the blame for a controversial cattle cull at his door. But on Friday, Mr Muir’s approach unravelled.

The UFU had finally called for his resignation over the matter, as well as his most senior official – and the country’s top vet. It also reaffirmed its vote of no confidence in his Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera).

In response, Minister Muir made clear the operation at Fivemiletown was neither authorised or directed by him – and said “if mistakes were made by my officials, they must be identified and lessons learned”. Then he turned fire on the UFU – saying “no single interest, however powerful or well organised, will be allowed to dictate government policy”.

The comments highlight what underlays much of this furore – the tension between Mr Muir’s environmental agenda and much of the farming industry which opposes the way he’s going about it.

However, in a radio interview with Cool FM, he went much further, accusing the UFU of naming and targeting Daera officials.

The UFU did no such thing, and the minister should retract that inflammatory statement. It is entirely acceptable for any lobby group to make such demands – and for ministers to tell them no.

There is no doubt the minister and officials have received unacceptable threats and homophobic abuse – but they did not come from the UFU.