Scottish farmers say 'fight and fight on' over EID

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 11th Aug 2009

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has spent the last two weeks meeting farmers from the Borders to Shetland hearing their views on the introduction of compulsory electronic tagging of sheep - and the message could not be clearer.

Mr Lyon has heard the unanimous view that, even with concessions, the proposed EID scheme is unworkable. Farmers and crofters have warned that if it goes ahead there will be a further exodus of livestock from Scotland's hill and upland areas.

Mr Lyon has called on Richard Lochhead to confirm that he is not throwing in the towel and asked him to clarify what steps the Scottish Government is going to take to win further concessions for farmers and crofters over the introduction of EID.

Commenting, Mr Lyon said:

"Over the last two weeks, I have met with hundreds of farmers from the Borders to Shetland and the almost unanimous view is that the scheme is still unworkable. Farmers expect their Government and their MEPs to pull together and continue to the fight their corner.

"Since the UK Government announced that they had agreed to seek no further concessions on EID, there has been a deafening silence from the Scottish Government.

"If the battle is to go on, then the Cabinet Secretary must clarify the steps that will be taken to try to make further progress.

"I have made repeated calls for Richard Lochhead to hold a meeting with all interested parties to discuss the way forward. So far he has been unwilling to do so which suggests the Scottish Government may be thinking of throwing in the towel.

"I am certainly up for that fight but Scottish MEPs cannot do it alone. It is time we heard from the Cabinet Secretary what his plans are."