Gransnet forums

News & politics

The Farmers Fight

(793 Posts)
Sarnia Mon 18-Nov-24 08:46:41

Infuriated farmers will be protesting against Labour's 'Tractor Tax' opposite Downing Street tomorrow. They are being asked not to bring farm machinery but I hope they clutter up Whitehall with every tractor and combine harvester they can lay their hands on. Reeves claims 'only' 20% of farms will be affected by her latest smash and grab raid but economists say it is nearer 70%. Has it not figured in her brain that if farmers, who already struggle to make ends meet, chuck in the towel, there will be a serious food shortage?

David49 Sun 24-Nov-24 13:09:27

Consumer choice is indeed responsible for much of the emissions choosing cheap disposable throwaway stuff, travelling by choice not need. If we are to reduce emissions we really have to get serious about our choices.

David49 Sun 24-Nov-24 12:57:47

Some imported food is cheaper because labour is cheaper there or not available in the UK, cost of production is only likely to be less if welfare or environmental regulations are lower. Having said that beef in the US produced in feedlots using GM food and hormones is more expensive than beef here as is most other food in the US

Wyllow3 Sun 24-Nov-24 12:46:44

Increasing food from abroad is surely market driven, consumer choice. .....cheap supermarket food, and all that.

I agree with you about solar panels should be more home grown of course

David49 Sun 24-Nov-24 12:38:16

Wyllow3

Yes, I recognise that IT will have an effect, although prognostications vary widely,

but David, any other issues that have grown up in the last 14 years don't relate to the current government at all. All your stuff about "greenwashing", what exactly over the last 14 years have the government done in this way, and why attribute it to Labour?

Greenwashing has been going on since Thatcher, yes it saves our emissions only to be replaced by even worse elsewhere. You surely realize that the solar panels we are buying today are being manufactured in China using electricity generated with coal from Australia.

That is exactly why Global emissions are still increasing, the present government thinks importing food helps emissions it doesn’t.

Wyllow3 Sun 24-Nov-24 12:21:55

There's currently a lot going on in the "nationalise water" debate. A lot of us in the L party (and for all I know, in other parties as well, especially if you live in Thames Water?)

.....Agree with re-nationlisation but the costs of doing that in the short term are a major problem.

Huge disagreements about "how much", as well.

Ilovecheese Sun 24-Nov-24 12:10:20

Socialists would care about children living in poverty and would have immediately removed the two child cap on benefits.
This Starmer Government does not.
Socialists would not let the water companies get away with such bad practise and would bring water back to being a public service instead of a cash machine for shareholders and executives.

Wyllow3 Sun 24-Nov-24 12:03:13

🤔 beats me.

Iam64 Sun 24-Nov-24 11:49:56

ronib

Communist? MaizieD

shock

ronib Sun 24-Nov-24 11:23:35

Communist? MaizieD

Wyllow3 Sun 24-Nov-24 11:12:46

Obviously there are a whole range of people who support moves towards a better distribution of wealth, a better welfare system, NHS, care, education, workers rights, and these are "socialist" in nature, but the Labour Party is doing this in the context of a capitalist economy.
There are proposals - like re-nationalising the railways, maybe water too, into public ownership but these have in the past been accepted as best options of running the society we have.

petal53 Sun 24-Nov-24 11:09:46

Ok, I’ve seen that before, but to me, that looks more like communism than socialism. But I was wondering why Maizie thinks this government is not socialist.

Wyllow3 Sun 24-Nov-24 11:05:37

Definition of socialism petal

a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole

petal53 Sun 24-Nov-24 11:01:20

Why don’t you think this government is socialist Maizie?

MaizieD Sun 24-Nov-24 10:45:33

ronib

Not just anti farmer, but anti elderly and anti public schools David49. Wonder who will be next?
Labour government policies are despatched at speed with no cost benefit or impact analyses- theoretical socialism at its best.

There is nothing in the slightest bit socialist about this government, ronib. Stop misusing the English language..

Wyllow3 Sun 24-Nov-24 10:15:11

Yes, I recognise that IT will have an effect, although prognostications vary widely,

but David, any other issues that have grown up in the last 14 years don't relate to the current government at all. All your stuff about "greenwashing", what exactly over the last 14 years have the government done in this way, and why attribute it to Labour?

David49 Sun 24-Nov-24 10:08:14

“So what did 14 years of Conservative governments "do' to the farmers to leave them in the situation you describe? Which policies

We've been looking for 25 pages at market forces of different kinds that have led to the current situation and the Labour Party have not added any legislation whatsoever as the kind you mention.“

It’s the imposition of regulations that has made it much more difficult to make any decent living from food production, added to that the price pressure from supermarkets makes it worse.

IHT changes now bring the prospect of big tax bills that the business will not be able to meet, it’s not surprising that farmers are not happy.

Wyllow3 Sun 24-Nov-24 09:51:31

As for taxing the very rich, we've also had threads on this where GN's have insisted we cant because "they'll leave the country" or of course use any tax benefits their accountants advise.

I don't think its for lack of wanting to or trying!

Wyllow3 Sun 24-Nov-24 09:48:49

David49

There is an anti farmer agenda in governments, they think they can save the planet by cutting down on food production and importing it. That’s what the environment activists tell them and the fools believe it because it sells well with voters.

Food produces exactly the same emissions regardless of where it is produced and in addition creates more being transported to where it’s being consumed. So all the UK is doing is exporting pollution to make its own climate targets easier, in exactly the same way as manufactured goods from China.

It’s simply Greenwashing and making no reduction in global CO2.

So what did 14 years of Conservative governments "do' to the farmers to leave them in the situation you describe? Which policies

We've been looking for 25 pages at market forces of different kinds that have led to the current situation and the Labour Party have not added any legislation whatsoever as the kind you mention.

ronib Sun 24-Nov-24 09:28:07

Iam64 my middle class friends can’t get their heads around it…. More like breaking the damn than mending. The devastation is only just beginning.

Iam64 Sun 24-Nov-24 09:20:45

The ‘middle class’, people I know remain relieved to have. Government that is trying to repair the devastation left by the previous government. It’s called giving a damn

ronib Sun 24-Nov-24 09:14:01

David49. I see no signs of extreme wealth coming under attack by Labour. It’s the middle class who are paying the price for socialism whilst the rich will get ever richer.

David49 Sun 24-Nov-24 09:10:39

Many of the changes have been idealogical, the conservative rural voters against the socialist urban voters, which is exactly what happened in the US, rural US turned out and voted for Trump because they feared Harris.

However in the Mail the headline is £135 billion raid on benefits, it may or may not be true but it dwarfs any extra taxation from the wealthy is likely to produce.

ronib Sun 24-Nov-24 08:32:03

Not just anti farmer, but anti elderly and anti public schools David49. Wonder who will be next?
Labour government policies are despatched at speed with no cost benefit or impact analyses- theoretical socialism at its best.

David49 Sun 24-Nov-24 08:09:39

There is an anti farmer agenda in governments, they think they can save the planet by cutting down on food production and importing it. That’s what the environment activists tell them and the fools believe it because it sells well with voters.

Food produces exactly the same emissions regardless of where it is produced and in addition creates more being transported to where it’s being consumed. So all the UK is doing is exporting pollution to make its own climate targets easier, in exactly the same way as manufactured goods from China.

It’s simply Greenwashing and making no reduction in global CO2.

Allira Sat 23-Nov-24 23:51:21

Jannicans

Hope Aussie polls don't get wind of that tax or they'll jump on it first.

There are no inheritance or estate taxes in Australia.