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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Dover: Slow tractor demo as farmers protest over imports | Dover: Slow tractor demo as farmers protest over imports |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The protesting farmers in Dover said they did not want to cause disruption but they wanted to raise awareness | |
| Tractors are lining up on roads outside Dover as farmers protest against foreign imports of food. | Tractors are lining up on roads outside Dover as farmers protest against foreign imports of food. |
| Kent Police said they were currently responding to an incident of "slow-moving vehicles" in Jubilee Way, one of the main roads heading to the port. | Kent Police said they were currently responding to an incident of "slow-moving vehicles" in Jubilee Way, one of the main roads heading to the port. |
| Officers were working with Port of Dover Police, the force said. | Officers were working with Port of Dover Police, the force said. |
| One farmer said on social media he was protesting over food trade deals. The BBC has contacted the government for comment. | One farmer said on social media he was protesting over food trade deals. The BBC has contacted the government for comment. |
| Jeffrey Gibson, from Yew Tree Farm in Wingham, Kent, said supermarkets were selling British produce at "cheaper than the cost of production", adding farmers would be taking their tractors to the Port of Dover on Friday evening. | Jeffrey Gibson, from Yew Tree Farm in Wingham, Kent, said supermarkets were selling British produce at "cheaper than the cost of production", adding farmers would be taking their tractors to the Port of Dover on Friday evening. |
| Traffic built up around the port as farmers took to the roads | Traffic built up around the port as farmers took to the roads |
| The protest follows similar demos in France in recent weeks which saw French farmers move tractors to blockade routes into Paris, arguing they had been hit by falling incomes, environmental regulations, rising red tape and competition from imports. Across Europe, farmers have also ramped up protests in Poland, Hungary, Spain and Belgium. | The protest follows similar demos in France in recent weeks which saw French farmers move tractors to blockade routes into Paris, arguing they had been hit by falling incomes, environmental regulations, rising red tape and competition from imports. Across Europe, farmers have also ramped up protests in Poland, Hungary, Spain and Belgium. |
| Mr Gibson about 30 tractors had gathered on roads around the port but were "dispersed" at the moment because police had blocked off many of the roads, adding: "They are not allowing us anywhere near the port." | Mr Gibson about 30 tractors had gathered on roads around the port but were "dispersed" at the moment because police had blocked off many of the roads, adding: "They are not allowing us anywhere near the port." |
| He said protesters wanted to raise awareness of how unfairly farmers were being treated. | He said protesters wanted to raise awareness of how unfairly farmers were being treated. |
| He said: "We produce crops to the highest standards in the world, but have to compete with imported foods containing illegal chemicals and the government does trade deals with those countries." | He said: "We produce crops to the highest standards in the world, but have to compete with imported foods containing illegal chemicals and the government does trade deals with those countries." |
| Farmers are using their vehicles to protest against foreign imports | Farmers are using their vehicles to protest against foreign imports |
| He said Friday's protest was only planned at lunchtime and so far about 30 tractors were taking part. | He said Friday's protest was only planned at lunchtime and so far about 30 tractors were taking part. |
| But he added: "This is just the start of something a lot bigger unless the government start to take notice." | But he added: "This is just the start of something a lot bigger unless the government start to take notice." |
| He said protests could escalate to the level of those seen in Paris and Brussels. | He said protests could escalate to the level of those seen in Paris and Brussels. |
| "We don't want to cause disruption," he said. | "We don't want to cause disruption," he said. |
| "We want to get the message across." | "We want to get the message across." |
| He said protesters would stay out on Friday night for as long as possible to raise awareness of their cause. | He said protesters would stay out on Friday night for as long as possible to raise awareness of their cause. |
| One truck displayed the slogan No More Cheap Imports | One truck displayed the slogan No More Cheap Imports |
| Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Dover | Dover |
| Kent Police | Kent Police |