This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-68255550
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Dover: Slow tractor demo as farmers protest over imports | Dover: Slow tractor demo as farmers protest over imports |
| (4 months later) | |
| The protesting farmers in Dover said they did not want to cause disruption but they wanted to raise awareness | The protesting farmers in Dover said they did not want to cause disruption but they wanted to raise awareness |
| The protesting farmers in Dover said they did not want to cause disruption but they wanted to raise awareness | The protesting farmers in Dover said they did not want to cause disruption but they wanted to raise awareness |
| Tractors lined up on roads outside Dover on Friday as farmers protested against foreign imports of food. | Tractors lined up on roads outside Dover on Friday as farmers protested against foreign imports of food. |
| Kent Police said they responded to an incident of "slow-moving vehicles" in Jubilee Way, one of the main roads heading to the port. | Kent Police said they responded to an incident of "slow-moving vehicles" in Jubilee Way, one of the main roads heading to the port. |
| Officers had worked with Port of Dover Police, the force said. | Officers had worked with Port of Dover Police, the force said. |
| A Government spokesperson said: "We firmly back our farmers. British farming is at the heart of British trade." | A Government spokesperson said: "We firmly back our farmers. British farming is at the heart of British trade." |
| They said agriculture was at the forefront of any deals negotiated, with a priority on creating new export opportunities and protecting UK food standards. | They said agriculture was at the forefront of any deals negotiated, with a priority on creating new export opportunities and protecting UK food standards. |
| One farmer took to social media to explain why he was taking part in the protest over food trade deals. | One farmer took to social media to explain why he was taking part in the protest over food trade deals. |
| Jeffrey Gibson, from Yew Tree Farm in Wingham, Kent, said supermarkets were selling British produce at prices "cheaper than the cost of production". | Jeffrey Gibson, from Yew Tree Farm in Wingham, Kent, said supermarkets were selling British produce at prices "cheaper than the cost of production". |
| Traffic built up around the port as farmers took to the roads | Traffic built up around the port as farmers took to the roads |
| 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. | 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. | Across Europe, farmers have also ramped up protests in Poland, Hungary, Spain and Belgium. |
| Mr Gibson said about 30 tractors had gathered on roads around the port but were "dispersed" because police had blocked off many of the roads, adding: "They are not allowing us anywhere near the port." | Mr Gibson said about 30 tractors had gathered on roads around the port but were "dispersed" 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 |
| 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 about 30 tractors were taking part. | He said Friday's protest was only planned at lunchtime and 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 want to get the message across." | "We don't want to cause disruption," he said. "We want to get the message across." |
| One truck displayed the slogan No More Cheap Imports | One truck displayed the slogan No More Cheap Imports |
| One truck displayed the slogan No More Cheap Imports | One truck displayed the slogan No More Cheap Imports |
| A Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson added: "We've maintained the £2.4 billion annual farming budget which supports farmers to produce food profitably and sustainably, while protecting nature and helping to meet our net zero ambitions. | A Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson added: "We've maintained the £2.4 billion annual farming budget which supports farmers to produce food profitably and sustainably, while protecting nature and helping to meet our net zero ambitions. |
| "We are also looking at ways to further improve fairness in the supply chain and support British farmers and growers" | "We are also looking at ways to further improve fairness in the supply chain and support British farmers and growers" |
| Follow BBC South East on Facebook, external, on X, external, and on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external. | Follow BBC South East on Facebook, external, on X, external, and on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external. |
| Related topics | |
| Dover | Dover |
| Kent Police | Kent Police |