Have patience with farming protests, UUP urges community
Mr Robert Carmichael, the Chairman of the East Londonderry Ulster Unionist Party Association, has urged the community to have patience with the farming community saying that farmers are in such dire straits financially that they have no other option but to use the blocking of roads and slow convoys to get the Government to listen to their concerns.
Speaking on behalf of the UUP association, Mr Carmichael said there was “the very real danger that unless the Westminster Government stepped in to help the Province’s hard-pressed agricultural community, that numerous farms could go out of business which could eventually hit both prices and availability for food produce in shops and supermarkets in the long-term”.
Mr Carmichael added: “The farming community wants to get the clear message across to constituents that the inconvenience of the short-term pain which the blockades and slow-moving cavalcades was currently causing had the long-term aim of gain for the entire agricultural community. In this respect, we urge constituents to have patience with the farming protests.
“As a UUP association, we also call on the Ulster Farmers’ Union to become more pro-active in supporting the cause of the agricultural community in seeking an effective financial package from Westminster which will keep many farms in business.
“At the same time, we appeal to protest organisers to keep all protests legal and not to resort to any behaviour or actions which could bring shame on the legitimate cause of the farming community.
“These are certainly very challenging times for farmers right across Northern Ireland and not just in East Londonderry. But we have to send a clear message to Westminster that they must listen carefully to the concerns of the agricultural community if many of our farmers are to have long-term business security.
“This is why we are urging all constituents to not just support the cause of farming, but to also have patience with the farmers as they endeavour to get Westminster to take notice of their worries and concerns,” said Mr Carmichael.