Christmas saved but pig farmers at their 'wit’s end' over butcher shortage

15 October 2021, 12:36 | Updated: 15 October 2021, 15:38

Pig farmer says the industry is at its 'wits' end'

By Amelia Isaacs

This pig farmer tells LBC the world 'can't believe what a mess' the UK is in amid labour shortages.

Sheffield pig farmer told LBC today that the industry is at its "wit’s end" due to an extreme shortage of butchers. 

Stephen Thompson said that help was needed quickly, criticising the government for taking six months to solve the issue.

The government are looking to bring in around 800 EU meat workers in November after a change in decisions about migrant labour.

Thompson said: "It’ll still save Christmas with pigs in blankets, and anything is a sliver of hope. We need it to happen now though." 

Pig farmer warns of funeral pyres piling up in the countryside

According to Thompson, there are "highly skilled, highly paid" butchers who want to come to the UK to work, but are being stopped by visas.

He said: “We don’t need government committees drawing up paperwork. We need these people invited in now.

"We had Danish, German and Japanese TV here on the farm because the rest of the world can’t believe what a mess we’re in. 

"It really does need sorting and it needs sorting now."

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

LBC callers react to Netanyahu calling out Starmer for being on the 'wrong side of humanity'

LBC callers react to Netanyahu calling out Starmer for being on the 'wrong side of humanity'

LBC callers react as the UK suspends trade talks with Israel

LBC callers react as the UK suspends trade talks with Israel

LBC callers react: UK, France and Canada threaten Israel with sanctions

LBC callers react: UK, France and Canada threaten Israel with sanctions

LBC caller ‘annoyed’ by reaction to UK-EU deal

LBC caller ‘annoyed’ by reaction to UK-EU deal

LBC caller tells Nick Ferrari: "You've got everything wrong for the last decade"

LBC caller tells Nick Ferrari: "You've got everything wrong for the last decade"

Gary Lineker 'to quit the BBC this week' | LBC reaction

LBC reaction: Gary Lineker quits the BBC

LBC callers react as Keir Starmer signs off his 'Brexit reset'

LBC callers react as Keir Starmer signs off his 'Brexit reset'

'British people don't want to pick fruit...'

Nick Ferrari won't take this caller's reasoning for the '9m economically inactive' in the UK

LBC caller’s plan to fix the care home sector

LBC caller’s plan to fix the care home sector

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Kemi Badnoch needs to get over herself'

'Woo-hoo!’: LBC caller reacts to the US-UK trade deal

'We went from back of the queue with Obama, to this'

Scottish farmer Murdo says that the US-UK deal is 'a big win for prime beef'

'In the Middle East, you're a laughing stock"

Caller Stewart says UK migration policy is "stirring up trouble"

'It's not a levelled playing field, is it...?'

LBC callers are divided over the UK-India trade deal

'we can hit net zero by accident'

Kneecap, Reform's 'turquoise tidal wave' and never leaving the UK | LBC's best callers of the week

'he'll bankrupt us, free speech is dead'

As Reform wins big, this LBC caller says 'Britain should be run by businesspeople'