Farmers Guardian
2001.08.24
Ben GILL Interview.
with the responses of:
Bryn WAYT interleaved

NFU
 president Ben Gill has defended his leadership of the NFU during the foot-and-mouth crisis, following criticism at a meeting in Cumbria last week.

GILL: "I am perfectly happy to defend everything we have done," he told FG at the Mid Somerset Show, Shepton Mallett.

BRYN: Well that is pretty bloody easy Mr Gill, because you lot (NFU) have done pretty well bugger all to save healthy animals, and you have done pretty well bugger all for a FULL Public Inquiry either.

Defend "everything" you have done, that will take one little breath.

It’s what you have NOT DONE that is indefensible Mr Gill. You can’t talk your way out of that paper bag.

GILL: "That's not to say I wouldn't change things, I defy anyone who says they wouldn't, because they are deluding themselves."

BRYN: Well, we are now getting near the crux of the matter !

Change things…..bet your bloody life you would change things. Only a lunatic would not want to change things – change things after the world’s worst screw up of tackling a FMD outbreak. As a government "things" will have to "change" and as a union "things" will have to "change".

But what things would you change Ben ?

That is what a few of us outside the farm gate would like to know, never mind those inside.

Would you STOP imports of vaccinated meat from foreign lands and protect our own island interests ?

Would you join in marches and give our farmers visible assurances and a fighting chance ?

Where’s your Press Release on that front ?

Would you demand a STOP to those countries who keep sending BSE in through our back door ?

The Germans were damn quick banning our meat under similar circumstances, but we continue to import their SRM on a regular basis and not a squeak from you !

The only delusion is coming from your mob. No wonder you would want to change things – you don’t even know the rules about vaccinated animal products and the UK (sorry EU) labelling situation !

GILL: He dismissed his Cumbria critics: "I spoke to them afterwards, and they were a mountaineering instructor, a retired butcher's wife and a woman whose father-in-law farmed sheep. They were not practical farmers and the flak was on one subject - vaccination.

BRYN: You were lucky anybody spoke to you ! This nation are not all "practical farmers" and as such have a great deal more flak to throw at you………..and it’s about vaccination too and your limp agenda on a FULL Public Inquiry into FMD.

Are you going to denounce them as more mountaineering instructors, retired butcher’s wife’s and more woman whose sister’s husband’s uncle’s friends granny farm sheep ?

The flak you got from three non practical farmers is delivered from the Heart of Britain, not just the thin slice 29% of "real" farmers whom you take union subscriptions from and do nought with.

Why did you lie back and do bugger all to tell the British housewife that thousand of tonnes of VACCINATED meat has entered this country more often than simulated refugees seeking asylum ?

Why did you not reassure the country that VACCINATED meat is safe to eat and they have been eating it for years (was it because you did not know) ? Because your political agenda does not allow it, does it !

I see your union took time out to canvas 100 farmers (real ones I hope) about how FMD has affected them. That was a HUGE undertaking Ben………..what did that cost ? £50 on phones calls ? Whew !

And the outcome was they had lost money - apart from one hell of a lot not mentioned.

What has the union decided in their magnificence……..that flyers advertising B&B on the farms are to be pushed out to appropriate focal points. WELL DONE mate, a bunch of girl guides could have figured that out for you.

How about another postal consensus of EVERY NFU member on their views on vaccination, and see if they want a FULL Public Inquiry into the FMD cock-up ?

See if your minority of farmers in this green and pleasant land agree with the sound, sensible, and wise view of a mountaineering instructor, a retired butcher’s wife, and a woman whose father-in-law farmed sheep.

If the majority don’t agree on VACCINATION and a FULL Public Inquiry, then I will personally climb up the highest mountain in Britain, led by a mountaineering instructor, in company with a retired butcher’s wife and a woman whose father-in-law farms sheep and eat some humble pie with sheep nuts in the middle !

If they do agree then YOU will climb that mountain led by a mountaineering instructor, a retired butcher’s wife………OK you know the rest !!

GILL: The next day I sat down with 16 Cumbrian branch chairmen, and they totally supported us on vaccination."

BRYN: So Ben it is you and just 16 others that makes it policy NOT to vaccinate, and the result is about 10 MILLION animals are slaughtered in the biggest nauseating mess the world has witnessed…………sorry sonny Jim, that will not do the electorate of the UK. There are few more voices than 17 to be heard on this.

GILL: "The general public correctly asks, why isn't there a proper vaccine to deal with the problem?

BRYN: The "general public" do not know their ass from their merino, so don’t give us this "proper vaccine" crap.

Ask professionals who know the business, like Dr Ruth Watkins, Prof. Fred Brown and they will inform the general public (and you apparently) there is suitable vaccine available for this Type "O" pan-Asian virus. It has been used around the world in case you don’t know. Maybe even ask the Dutch…………the cost of a phone call…………they leapt into the dark !!!

GILL: And who was shouting about that in 1993? I was.

BRYN: So why are you not shouting about it now ?

GILL: "I saw the Government slash funding for basic research into animal diseases, then that inadequate budget was decimated following by BSE…….."

BRYN: Your mate Blair was blowing his trumpet that BSE cost the nation £3.5 BILLION and what do we get….a Public Inquiry…………FMD has cost the nation £20 BILLION at the very least………….where’s your shouting voice gone now Ben ? There is a deathly hush from the mighty NFU know all.

GILL: So just because it's a good idea, you can't do it if it isn't there and there was no appropriate vaccine.

BRYN: What in the hell are you talking about, "no appropriate vaccine" ? Is that what Blair has told you, or what the Argentineans or the Brazilians told you ?
Get a grip mate………..you have had six months to study the form and you still believe the spin from DEFRA ! Time you got out more.

GILL: People make out that it just didn't sound right, but I spent hours with virologists and epidemiologists."

BRYN: Sounds as if you have been keeping bad company !

GILL: He admitted more could have been done to make the Government to realise the gravity of the situation in the early days of the crisis.

BRYN: Will he admit more could still be done to knock some bloody sense into Blair and VACCINATE NOW !

The gravity of the situation is blacking him out and all those near the man. They are in a centrifuge of their own making and can’t stop the spin.

GILL: "I feared for the worst and hoped for the best".

BRYN: Well your fears were answered, and there is not much left of the best.

Time to stop hoping and do something POSITIVE………like VACCINATE NOW !

GILL: "Maybe we should have pushed the Government harder when we thought they were listening and they weren't"

BRYN: So here is an admission they were NOT listening. They are still not listening !  Some honesty at last.

Yes matey, maybe you should have pushed the government harder………..maybe you should have kicked butt when you had the chance…………it’s THREE WISHES time for you Ben………and I shall tell you what they are.

1. Kick their butt NOW
2. VACCINATE NOW
3. Demand a FULL PUBLIC INQUIRY NOW

GILL: "……about what was going wrong in the beginning. But that's hindsight."

BRYN: We are all smart arses when it comes to hind-sight. It is just not what went wrong in the beginning, it's still going wrong now as we speak !

We, the mountaineers, the retired butcher’s wife’s and the women whose father-in-law’s farm sheep, and the Heart of Britain who own the country, want some foresight from the likes of you to grab the bull by the horns, not to slaughter it on suspicion, but to VACCINATE NOW. It is never too late………..what’s your excuse now ? Don’t say hindsight.

Bryn WAYT
bryn@wayt.greatxscape.net

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