‘Food security is national security,’ says MP while showcasing empty supermarket shelves 

Carmichael MP wrote on his social media: ‘This is your handy cut-out-and-keep guide to food security and why it matters. The next time someone tells you that we can rely on imports for our food needs, show them these pictures.’ 

The MP explained that supermarkets in the Shetland Islands rely on importing almost all their food from mainland UK.

‘After a few days of bad weather and no ferries, this is what the shelves look like. We manage because we are a resilient island community, and we are accustomed to bad weather and its consequences.  

‘I am less sure that people in cities and towns would be so pragmatic. Fortunately we still have a couple of dairy farms hanging on in there, so we have fresh milk. Food security is national security.’ 

Farmers’ voice

Last week, Suffolk and Essex farmers protested all night, highlighting concerns over foreign food imports and fighting for fair prices for their produce. 

Over 15 farmers gathered at the Port of Felixstowe at midnight on 23rd January to express their dissatisfaction with current food policy.  

20-year-old Suffolk farm worker Spencer Campbell said: “We want to stop substandard cheap foreign imports. We’re getting various meats and also grains coming over to this country which are grown to lower standards than our own. We’re here also to continue our fight against IHT.” 

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Two Essex farmers, Robert Blyth and John Mitchell, added: “We’re here as part of a nationwide protest against the government’s foreign imports that are coming into the country that don’t meet our standards.  

“Our hope is that the government will listen for a change.” 

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