North East and Cumbria: The Farmers Are Revolting

Damian O'Neil Politics Show, North East and Cumbria

Ignoring the a capella band with the baldy bloke who murdered that Yazoo song, flying pickets are normally associated with militant trade unionists; the very words conjure up images of pitched battles between coalminers and the massed ranks of the police during the miners' strike of the 1980s.

Some tankers turned away from their depots

But groups of well-organised pickets are once again ranging across the countryside.

This time they are made up of farmers from across Britain, working to support the dairy farming industry which they say is on the verge of disaster.

The pickets have already successfully prevented tankers from delivering their milk to creameries in the North East and Cumbria.

They are well organised, quick to respond and are fuelled by a confidence in their ability to wield a degree of power, and call attention to their cause.

They say dairy farmers are struggling to keep themselves afloat, while the milk processors to whom they sell their product and the supermarkets are turning decent profits.

1970s prices

Farmers get about 18 pence a litre for their milk, while it sells for about 43 pence a litre in supermarkets, which accounts for most of the milk market.

The farmers argue that they're getting the same for their milk as their mothers and fathers did 25 years ago.

Now the pressure group 'Farmers for Action' is learning from previous rural disputes like the fuel protest, and is adopting more direct, militant tactics to try and get themselves heard.

The police are keeping a close eye on their protests, although the farmers insist they're doing no more than exercising their right to protest.

The Politics Show

On Politics Show, we will be hear from a dairy farmer from Northumberland and the regional director of the Countryside Alliance on the plight of the dairy industry, together with a location report from the heart of North Yorkshire's farming community.

Afterwards, you will have the chance to have your say on whether you think the dairy farmers are getting a fair deal.

So what do you think? Watch the programme and give us your view.

Send in your comments on the form below.

Join the Politics Show presenters Mary Askew and Tony Baker, on BBC One on Sundays at Noon.

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