UFU president William Irvine
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has continued its intensive political engagement at Westminster today, building on yesterday’s programme of meetings as it pushes for urgent government action on spiralling farm input costs.
UFU President William Irvine has held a series of high-level meetings with Cabinet Ministers, MPs, peers and key decision-makers, ensuring that the pressures facing Northern Ireland farm businesses remain firmly on the political agenda. The Union’s engagement has spanned all political parties, with a coordinated effort to secure cross-party support and accelerate government response.
Speaking from Westminster, UFU President William Irvine said, “Over the past two days we have been engaging directly with decision-makers at the very highest levels of government. We have met with Cabinet Ministers, MPs from across all parties and members of the House of Lords to ensure there is no doubt about the seriousness of the situation facing our farmers.”
He continued, “This is not just about raising awareness, it is about driving action. We have secured commitments at the highest level, including direct engagement with the Prime Minister following a question raised on our behalf. It is now essential that these commitments are followed through and delivered rapidly.”
Mr Irvine emphasised the scale of the challenge facing the industry, “Farm businesses are under immense pressure from rising fuel, fertiliser and input costs, on top of ongoing policy challenges and weather impacts. At the same time, government tax revenues have increased significantly, and it is only right that meaningful support is now directed back to sustain food production and the wider agri-food sector.”
He added, “We are continuing to meet with political representatives, industry stakeholders and officials to ensure that Northern Ireland farmers are heard loud and clear. This is a sustained campaign and we will continue to apply pressure until practical support is delivered.”
The UFU confirmed that its Westminster engagement will continue in the coming days, alongside ongoing discussions at Stormont, as part of a coordinated effort to secure tangible outcomes for farm businesses.
Mr Irvine concluded, “Farmers are doing everything they can to keep producing food under extremely difficult conditions. They cannot continue to absorb these pressures alone. Government must now act decisively to protect the future of our agri-food industry.”
