Labour Executive Delegates Comments Stun NFU Cymru
UK - NFU Cymru is astonished by Welsh Labour Executive delegate Ann Morgan’s accusations that animal welfare is not highly regarded by the farming community. The farming Union has expressed its dismay that a political representative purporting to represent a rural area such as Carmarthenshire could make such ill informed comments in relation to livestock farming.
24 November 2006
2 minute read
Hugh Richards, NFU Cymru’s County Chairman for Carmarthenshire, said, “I challenge Mrs Morgan’s ridiculous statements and ask from what experiences in her constituency she bases such accusations? As a farmer, the welfare of my stock is paramount and the maxim of any livestock farmer is “If I look after my animals, they will look after me.” No one would remain in farming if this were not the case.
“Farmers spend many months of sleepless nights ensuring their animals receive the best care and attention, helping sheep to lamb and cows to calve. I take personal offence at the comments made by Mrs Morgan, which have been based on assumptions rather than the facts surrounding livestock farming in Wales.”
Mr Richards added, “Welsh farmers abide by the most stringent national and EU regulations both on farm, at markets and in transit and are policed by a raft of inspection agencies. In
addition, most farmers enter into Farm Assurance schemes which go above and beyond any legislative requirements. I would be willing at any time to invite Mrs Morgan to my farm to show her the standard of livestock farming in the county that she purports to represent.”
Mr Richards concluded, “The mere fact that Ann Morgan is prepared to make this sort of highly inflammatory and totally untrue statement is a clear indication that she neither understands, nor cares about rural Wales. She ought to realise that she has made the most monumental error and apologise unreservedly to the farmers of Wales.”
