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19
Jul
'Grown up conversation' needed over economic migration, says NFU president
A “grown up conversation” is needed over economic migration and how it impacts the rural economy, the president of the National Farmers’ Union has said.
Speaking at an event at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate, Tom Bradshaw said politicians were “too scared” to have a sensible debate on the matter because “all migration is deemed to be bad”.
Mr Bradshaw added that the number of Eastern European workers, some of whom have been in the food sector for 10 years or more, who have settled status was “beginning to get smaller” and was beginning to affect staffing in the industry.
He said:
I think we need to be able to have a conversation about economic migration. But everyone politically at the moment is too scared to have any sensible, grown up conversation about what economic migration looks like because all migration is deemed to be bad migration.
I’m afraid that is completely wrong. When we look in our food industry, right the way from farm to processing, we have a need for overseas workers. I just think we need a grown up conversation about what economic migration delivers for society and why we need to make sure we do not weaponise all migration and stop the ability to produce the country’s food and other countries’ as well.
The NFU has long argued that the farming sector needs access to seasonal worker, which are often from overseas, in order to keep industries, such as horticulture and seasonal poultry, afloat.
David Skaith, Labour Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said he agreed with Mr Bradshaw’s concerns.
Speaking to the Stray Ferret, the Labour mayor said he had raised the issue over economic migration and its impact on the farming sector with government.
He said:
We have already had those conversations with the NFU and with government around that. We need to make sure that there is a workforce here that is fit, ready and can support our food and farming sector.
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