MP TO JOIN MILK PROTEST

Lewes MP, Norman Baker will join a group of farmers from across the South East at a protest being organised in the centre of Lewes tomorrow, October 12, at 9:30am to show his continuing solidarity for the farmers call for fairer milk prices.

The protest has been organised to coincide with the appearance of Peter Parkes in Lewes Magistrates Court after he was arrested during the protests held outside the Arla Milk processing plant at Sheffield Park last month.

DEFRA figures uncovered by Norman during the summer showed that dairy farmers receive 25 per cent less for their milk than they did 10 years ago, while checkout prices have remained at a virtual standstill.

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In 1995 farmers received almost 40% of the retail price of milk but now get less than 30%, confirming that downward pressure on prices hits farmers' livelihoods more than supermarkets' profit margins.

Arla is the largest dairy company in the UK, controlling around 35% of the UK milk market and currently supplies both Asda and Tesco supermarkets.

Commenting on this, Norman, who is also the Lib Dems Shadow Agriculture Secretary, said:

"I have much sympathy for dairy farmers in the UK who are being forced by the supermarkets to accept ever decreasing prices. This protest is an opportunity for me to show my continuing solidarity with the farmers and again bring the issue to the attention of consumers.

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"Processors and supermarkets are milking our farmers for all their worth. Many dairy farmers are hanging on by their fingertips.

"Even though Britain has some of the best conditions in Europe for milk production, we could now face the prospect within years of becoming dependent on milk imports to meet domestic demand.

"Processors and supermarkets have a responsibility to very hard working primary producers who clearly do not have the commercial strength in the market to take them on particularly since the unnecessary demise of Milk Marque in 1999.

"Farmers need a proper Food Trade Inspector within the OFT to place an effective check on overwhelming supermarket power."