Jacob Rees-Mogg said the UK ‘does not need fruit pickers’ and suggested ‘cheaper’ fruit should be imported from abroad (Jacob Rees-Mogg)
Jacob Rees-Mogg has failed to recognise the ‘invaluable contribution' of farmers and growers in domestic food production after comments made regarding seasonal labour on farms.
Mr Rees-Mogg said the UK ‘does not need fruit pickers' and suggested ‘cheaper fruit' should be imported from abroad.
He also called for greater controls on legal migration and warned numbers are 'getting out of control' after the Office for National Statistics said net migration had increased to 745,000 last year - which was 140,000 higher than previous predictions.
However, farming bodies have hit back in anger against the North East Somerset MP's comments which had ‘failed to recognise the invaluable contribution of growers and pickers in aiding domestic food production'.
War of words as NFU president slams Jacob Rees-Mogg as 'morally bankrupt'
Liz Webster, chair of Save British Farming, said Mr Rees-Mogg was ‘letting down farmers'.
"Jacob Rees-Mogg is not only failing his constituents with his inflammatory anti-British farming outbursts backing foreign lower standard imports, but also the country as a whole," Ms Webster added.
"All research shows the vast majority of British people back British farming and prefer to eat high quality British food.
Somerset farmers write letter in protest against Jacob Rees-Mogg's comments on hormone-injected beef imports from Australia
"Food security is national security.
"British food is something which our politicians should be truly proud of.
"With some of the highest standards in the world - local, fresh, high-quality food is good for our health and also for the environment.
Conservative Party conference: Rishi Sunak confirms HS2 Manchester leg to be scrapped
"It is a shame we cannot say this about some of our MPs, like Mr Rees-Mogg, who are letting farmers down so badly."
NFU president Minette Batters had labelled Mr Rees-Mogg ‘morally bankrupt' after he welcomed the idea of importing hormone-injected beef from Australia because it was 'cheap and delicious' at the Conservative Party Conference earlier this year in Manchester.
Somerset famers had written an open letter to Mr Rees-Mogg in October which had asked the Conservative MP to reconsider the ‘possible damaging ramification' of backing intensive farming systems which would ‘lower the standards of British farming'.
Autumn Statement: NFU demands Chancellor puts farming first
NFU horticulture and potato board chair Martin Emmett said seasonal workers who come to the UK play a ‘crucial role in aiding domestic food production'.
"It is vital for the Government to recognise the importance of the seasonal workers needed to produce and process high-quality, affordable and sustainable food to maintain the UK's food security," Mr Emmett added.
"Relying on cheaper imported produce also fails to recognise the invaluable contributions of British farmers and growers.
Seasonal workers and public perception key to addressing labour shortages
"British farmers take pride in the environmentally friendly and sustainable food they produce, and we cannot afford to undermine them by importing produce which may not meet the high standards they grow to.
"Supporting our domestic agricultural sector is not just about economics - it is also about boosting food security, job preservation and sector resilience.
"By recognising their efforts, we can help support a thriving agricultural sector which not only sustains our economy but also safeguards the integrity of our food production."
