Rural communities improving despite government ignorance

A leading Yorkshire MEP has expressed his delight at the region's thriving agricultural life following a visit to Driffield Show this week – but claimed the Government is still failing to recognise rural needs.

Timothy Kirkhope MEP (Conservative, Yorkshire and The Humber) attended the Driffield Agricultural Society's annual show on Wednesday, where it was clear that many of the troubles of the 2001 Foot-and-Mouth epidemic had been put behind farmers.

"While it was clear that a lot of farmers are still feeling the economic effects of Foot-and-Mouth, the worst appears to be over, despite the rural communities still getting such a rough deal from the British Government, with moves such as the Hunting Bill," said Mr Kirkhope. "The show was a wonderful day and an excellent exhibition of the traditional industries and crafts of East Yorkshire and the region as a whole.

"None of the credit for the improvements to rural life can go to the Government, but instead the improvements are down to the hard work of the communities themselves.

"At best, the Government is still displaying total ignorance to the needs of rural Yorkshire. At worst, it is displaying malice in continuing to ignore those needs."