Tory Tosh About Caring For Rural Areas - 2

Heard the story about children who don't know milk comes from cows, and think it arrives in the supermarket from a factory that puts it into bottles?

That childish ignorance is in danger of becoming true.

Increased financial pressures on dairy farmers are pushing farmers towards an unwelcome and unhealthily intensive Dairy 'Industry'. More and more cows are seen as nothing but milk production factory units.

Alan Meale, Labour MP for  Mansfield, on 3rd June tabled an Early Day Motion

EDM 144 - LEVELS OF INDUSTRIALISATION IN UK DAIRY HERDS
That this House is aware of the pressures building within the agricultural and related industries in the UK towards greater levels of industrialisation in UK dairy farming, with the direct consequence of growing numbers of cows being kept indoors for most of their lives; and notes the 2009 Report of the European Food Safety Authority, which concluded that the factory farming of dairy cows should end, not least because such breeding and practices for higher milk yields are major factors causing poor health and welfare in dairy herds.

.....
In the three weeks since then sixteen Labour MPs and only oneTory MP have signed their support for the EDM

If you want to help prevent the trend towards intensive factory-farming practices harmful to cows you can lobby Central Devon's Tory MP Mel Stride. Ask him to sign the EDM and also to be pro-active on the issue - his contact details are here

But he may not want to upset his neighbouring Tory MP Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, who has this to say in the 6th April 2010 edition of Meat Trade News Daily

Babies and the reconomic recession

"There is one area in particular where we both believe there is a need for urgent change. It is shocking that in many parts of Europe women still do not have equal rights in the workplace. [my emphasis] This is not just unfair; it makes no sense - because it deprives our economies of their full potential as workers and consumers."

Amazingly, the "we" who wrote the above are the prime ministers of the UK and Sweden. It is in an article in today's Financial Times - Reining in Europe's deficits is just the first step
It makes you wonder whether David Cameron is fully aware of how our country lags behind Sweden in terms of workplace rights not only for women, but for men too.

It is not good enough to keep the focus on women alone. Urge legislative change on behalf of women all you want, but that in itself won't shift cultural attitudes. Sweden's pro-active legislation for men in the workplace has made

Tory tosh about caring for rural areas - 1

Anyone who thinks the Tory-Lib Dem Govt will actually care about - or even understand - rural issues may want to re-think.

One month into the new Govt and here's the first revelation.
Rural poverty will be tackled by voluntary organisations which will help to rescue people from being "stranded on benefits" and get them into work.
Don't ask what work, since it is clear to me when meeting young people across Central Devon that finding a job which lets you live in your own village is nigh on impossible.

Buried in his House of Commons speech on tackling poverty Chris Grayling, Tory Minister for Work and Pensions, made this startling admission

Harold Wilson's choice

Twice Labour Prime Minister between 1964 and 1976

Harold Wilson is remembered for his Government's

progressive and occasionally radical legislation including 

abortion, censorship, divorce, homosexuality,

immigration, membership of the European Community 

and especially the abolition of capital punishment.

I remember on my first visit to the Isles of Scilly
seeing him on St Mary's harbour quayside embarking
on one of the off-island trips.

He chose to retire to the Scillies and every time I go back for yet another holiday on those beautiful islands I think what a good choice he made.

To anyone who has not experienced this superb part of the UK - do go!

To anyone who wants to see a progressive and radical Party back in power - get involved in the Leadership contest, join us to restore the Party, help us get re-elected and see your beliefs put to work.