Farmers in Britain drove tractors to Parliament on Monday to show their unhappiness with the rules and trade deals after Brexit. They say these are putting their jobs and the country’s food safety at risk.
Supporters from Save British Farming and Fairness for Farmers of Kent gathered in southeast England and moved towards Parliament Square. They were greeted by more supporters waiting there.
Tractors decorated with Union Jack flags and signs like “Stop substandard imports” formed a long line along the River Thames. They circled Parliament Square with cheers and honking horns.
Unlike in France and other European countries, Britain hadn’t seen big farmers’ protests before. But now, British farmers are upset over rules, targets for clean air and soil, and competition from abroad.
Brexit changed a lot for UK farming. It ended the free trade agreement with the EU and its farming rules. Some farmers supported Brexit because they didn’t like the EU’s farming policy. But now, they’re worried about cheap imports from countries like Australia and New Zealand.
They also don’t like that some products can have a Union flag even if they’re not from Britain. The UK also delayed checks on imports, which farmers say could harm biosecurity.
Liz Webster, a farmer from western England, said the government had let them down. She mentioned that people support British farming and want high food standards. She urged for changes in policy and to cancel trade deals that could hurt British food production.
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