British MPs Call for Urgent Support for Dairy Farmers Amid Price Cuts

The MPs, both from the Liberal Democrat party, have criticized this situation as "simply unacceptable" and are calling for a comprehensive reform of the existing regulatory framework. Currently, the dairy sector is overseen by the Groceries Code Adjudicator and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator, which they argue leads to a "fragmented and weakened regulatory approach."

Ms Sabine highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by farmers due to policy changes, stating: "With a government that is cutting basic payments, increasing the family farm tax, and repealing environmental incentives in a slapdash way, hard-working farmers should not also have to face a fragmented regulatory system that allows supermarket chains to short-change them for their product."

The Liberal Democrats are advocating for a singular, robust regulatory body with enough resources and authority to ensure fair pricing and enforce standards.

The industry faces further challenges as Parkham Farms announced an 8p per litre price cut for November, representing an 18 per cent drop. Freshways and Arla Foods have also confirmed reductions in their milk prices.

Research has shown a significant decline in dairy farm numbers in England, dropping by over 30 percent since 2015. The MPs argue that immediate and decisive action is necessary to prevent further decline and protect rural communities.