Good article today by Charlie Brooks http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/countryside/7158431/The-countryside-cries-out-for-a-fair-deal.html on the failure of the government to protect farmers and to keep the power of the supermarket in check. Peter Atkinson, and others, including myself have fought a consistent campaign to improve the farmers lot in Hexham, but bear this in mind:
Of every pound spent in a supermarket, only 8p makes it back to the farmer.
Nick Herbert is doing a great job with specific policies to curb the power of supermarkets and promote farmers - 3 examples are easily identified:
- The honest food Labelling Campaign
- The Supermarket Ombudsman
- Encouraging councils to source their food locally
All robust common sense stuff - and farmers approve!