Government lands fresh blow on farmers. Peter Thornton protests at attempt to make our farmers pay for government bungling.

11.33.41pm GMT Wed 10th Feb 2010

Commenting on proposals set out in the Government's draft Animal Health Bill which would see livestock farmers pay half the cost of preparing for animal disease outbreaks, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamantary Candidate for Penrith and The Border, Peter Thornton said:

"It's totally unfair for ministers to make livestock farmers pay, given the 2007 Foot and Mouth outbreak came from Government-licensed premises and the complete mess they made of handling the 2001 outbreak. Farmers in this area suffered greatly due to government incompetence in handling the outbreak and lack of border controls which led to the outbreak itself.

To pass the buck to farmers is a disgrace.

Farmers understand the need to protect public health but shouldn't be made to pay bills for DEFRA's mishandling of issues such as Bovine TB, Foot and Mouth and BSE.

Both Labour and Conservative governments have shown a lack of understanding when it comes to agriculture. Only the Liberal Democrats appreciate the true relationship between our use of the land, food security and the benefits of good quality locally produced food.