FARMERS FOR Action has called on UK farmers to use the imminent General Election to select politicians that will put the nation’s food security at the top of their agenda.

Prime Minister Theresa May had so far failed to mention farming or farm incomes, noted the radical rural organisation, and had not ruled out post-Brexit trade deals where farming would be made the sacrificial lamb. So before she or any other candidates got a single farmer votes, FFA organiser William Taylor suggested that they should answer three key questions.

"Are you prepared to put farming, food security and therefore the UK’s prosperity ahead of health and education?" asked Mr Taylor.

"Will you back legislation on farm gate prices like Northern Ireland is currently aiming for, which would return a minimum of the cost of production plus a margin inflation linked across the staples and create thousands of jobs and save hundreds of millions in welfare?

"Will you end totally unnecessary food swaps by corporate food retailers, wholesalers and processors for profit, e.g. the import of New Zealand lamb, when the UK is self-sufficient in sheep meat, yet we are exporting 35% and importing 35%?"

Mr Taylor said that the UK Government could not sign up to international climate change agreements on greenhouse gas reduction yet allow ships to leave the UK with lamb bound for North Africa only to meet New Zealand ships coming the other way, both for the sake of food corporates' profit.

"The same can be said for Brazilian beef, Argentinian beef and other long haul produce that is merely an import for profit not necessity," said Mr Taylor. "We are virtually self-sufficient in beef within the EU, we cannot justify the importation of inferior Brazilian beef amidst corruption and sanitary issues in that country and at the same time fuel the demise of our planet.

"But it is pointless farmers complaining to each other – instead get on the phone to those would-be MPs and hold them to account with your family and friends votes!”