Mail on Sunday front page tommorrow :-(

[curlietailz]

“”

In leaked emails obtained by The Mail on Sunday, powerful Treasury adviser Tim Leunig argues that the food sector is not 'critically important' to the economy – and that agriculture and fishery production 'certainly isn't'.
In his astonishing remarks – which comes as the UK prepares to enter crunch post-Brexit trade talks with Donald Trump – Dr Leunig implies that the UK could follow the example of Singapore 'which is rich without having its own agricultural sector'.

 

[curlietailz]

Britain doesn't need farmers, reveal leaked senior official emails

In leaked emails obtained by The Mail on Sunday, powerful Treasury adviser Tim Leunig argues that the food sector is not 'critically important' to the economy.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Barleycorn]

That's a shame, if it's in the Sunday Hate it must be true!

 

[vantage]

Foods only important if you’re hungry.

 

[DrWazzock]

How many wake up calls do some of these clowns need. If events of the past week and past three months weather tell us anything, they tell us that food supply is far more fragile than we have been accustomed to believe and that maintaining home production is of vital strategic importance.

 

[Barleycorn]

Obviously wasn't taught about 1939/45 in school!

 

[anzani]

Theres more here:
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8060575/How-senior-economic-adviser-Dr-Tim-Leunig-brainbox.html
Dont those hands say so much.......

 

[Cowabunga]

Obviously wasn't taught about 1939/45 in school!

He has been taught that it is almost inconceivable that any serious shortage could happen in this day and age. He's wrong of course and totally ignores the lessons of history and one of the primary duties of any government, which is to ensure the security of food supply, along with shelter and water. Any administration that abdicates itself of any one of these responsibilities deserves to be brought down and replaced.

Of course the Brexiteers have very little to worry about because of all the easy trade agreements we will make that ensures abundant cheap imports from any sources whatsoever.

What these clowns look at is the share of national GDP given by UK agriculture, which is admittedly small. The reason for this is, of course, that we have become so efficient and that food has become such a small part of everyones annual spend [on average] that it does look quite inconsequential on the books. Tesco has a greater turnover than the whole of UK agriculture and it can easily source from abroad.

 

[Hindsight]

I doubt very much any emails are leaked. The Mail is an ideal media outlet to 'float' this issue. Test the waters. Preparing for the EU and USA trade talks in the next few months.

 

[Cowabunga]

Theres more here:
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8060575/How-senior-economic-adviser-Dr-Tim-Leunig-brainbox.html
Dont those hands say so much.......

The quote at the bottom of the article says it all...
"But last night a friend said: 'Tim is highly intelligent. Perhaps too intelligent for his own good sometimes'."

I think most of us know and recognise to Uber-intelligence is only a thin line away from lunacy. In the case of this man, it seems quite obvious that he has crossed the line by a long way. It is to be hoped that the more sensible people in Government also recognise this and don't give him the time of day much less try and humour him.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

But it is obviously true, the food sector isn't critically important to the economy if you consider it in purely monetary terms. There are too many idiots that know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
The food security and care of the environment that agriculture provides for the UK is priceless. It also circulates its worth throughout the economy in a way that the more profitable sectors don't.
I do fear that ignorance has become so entrenched that they will kill off UKag before understanding and appreciating are true worth when we're gone.

 

[Cowabunga]

But it is obviously true, the food sector isn't critically important to the economy if you consider it in purely monetary terms. There are too many idiots that know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
The food security and care of the environment that agriculture provides for the UK is priceless. It also circulates its worth throughout the economy in a way that the more profitable sectors don't.
I do fear that ignorance has become so entrenched that they will kill off UKag before understanding and appreciating are true worth when we're gone.

I've said it any times before, that history repeats itself and we have been in that position before, more than once.

 

[Hindsight]

Most farms do not produce food as such but raw materials for the food producing sector. I appreciate that is a bland catch all statement which an easily be shot down. So it would be interesting and important to ask the first point end users where they wish to source supplies into the future. I am presuming the government is working on the market rules principle. Thus if a farmer wishes to continue farming producing a raw commodity such as wheat, barley, beef cattle, caulilowers he can within reason but there will be no or little support other than the arrangements outlined in the recenlty published policy document and whatever trade agreements are agreed. So the industry needs to ensure major retailers and food processors demand to use UK produce.

 

[Cowabunga]

Most farms do not produce food as such but raw materials for the food producing sector. I appreciate that is a bland catch all statement which an easily be shot down. So it would be interesting and important to ask the first point end users where they wish to source supplies into the future. I am presuming the government is working on the market rules principle. Thus if a farmer wishes to continue farming producing a raw commodity such as wheat, barley, beef cattle, caulilowers he can within reason but there will be no or little support other than the arrangements outlined in the recenlty published policy document and whatever trade agreements are agreed. So the industry needs to ensure major retailers and food processors demand to use UK produce.

First point end users, the processors, could well be thrown to the wolves with agriculture/farming. Imports of most commodity products might well drastically reduce to be replaced by foreign processed and packaged final branded products. I'm sure the supermarkets couldn't give two hoots whether their tins and packages of lasagnea are sourced from the UK or not. Just as long as they can assure continuity of supply, quality [to a point] and get it a penny cheaper than their competitor supermarkets.

 

[Hindsight]

First point end users, the processors, could well be thrown to the wolves with agriculture/farming. Imports of most commodity products might well drastically reduce to be replaced by foreign processed and packaged final branded products. I'm sure the supermarkets couldn't give two hoots whether their tins and packages of lasagnea are sourced from the UK or not. Just as long as they can assure continuity of supply, quality [to a point] and get it a penny cheaper than their competitor supermarkets.

These are the questions to be posed to the Conservative and Brexit Party MPs as it is their policies. Farmers should be more interested in the governments attitude to the first point end users than any specific agricultural policy, as without those end users there is no requirement for the raw commodities. I hope you are wrong!

 

[steveR]

“”

In leaked emails obtained by The Mail on Sunday, powerful Treasury adviser Tim Leunig argues that the food sector is not 'critically important' to the economy – and that agriculture and fishery production 'certainly isn't'.
In his astonishing remarks – which comes as the UK prepares to enter crunch post-Brexit trade talks with Donald Trump – Dr Leunig implies that the UK could follow the example of Singapore 'which is rich without having its own agricultural sector'.

The man must be a Moron! Singapore is a miniscule island statelet, not a major industrial country like the UK.

I'd like to see the ag sector on Singapore!!!

Singapore

www.google.co.uk

 

[steveR]

I've said it any times before, that history repeats itself and we have been in that position before, more than once.

You don't even have to go back very far either...

But politicians only ever focus on the next election.

 

[Grandad Pig]

First point end users, the processors, could well be thrown to the wolves with agriculture/farming. Imports of most commodity products might well drastically reduce to be replaced by foreign processed and packaged final branded products. I'm sure the supermarkets couldn't give two hoots whether their tins and packages of lasagnea are sourced from the UK or not. Just as long as they can assure continuity of supply, quality [to a point] and get it a penny cheaper than their competitor supermarkets.

Nails and heads I fear. Coupled with what appears to me, a relative outsider, as a manipulation of public attitudes to UK farming (reminiscent of that of the UK mining industry, brave hard working salt-of-the-Earth types during the ‘50’s but portrayed as greedy lazy over subsidised scroungers during the 70’s).

As a young agricultural engineer many years ago, the farming sector was held in high regard, was respected.

Manipulation of public attitudes has nothing to do with Greta, anymore than Scargil was the root of the miners problems. Short term profit for a few MNC’s is the prime concern.

I fear for the industry, I really do.

 

[Cowabunga]

I hope you are wrong!

So do I.

 

[Cowabunga]

The man must be a Moron! Singapore is a miniscule island statelet, not a major industrial country like the UK.

I'd like to see the ag sector on Singapore!!!

Singapore

www.google.co.uk

Yes, he is an absolute idiot. However I do understand his warped logic in that what is possible in Singapore is also possible in the UK. You would be well advised to take that rather seriously because this man has influence far beyond what he deserves in a government of near morons who will take this country into economic oblivion before they realise what they have done.
You only have to listen to IDC today and be able to recognise his blatant lies to realise that this lot are delusional.