Going round in circles

The year seems to be charging ahead, I wish I could say the same about Brexit.

I can’t believe how many times we have to go round a circle before we come up with some inspiring answers to questions that were asked from day one. I don’t expect Ornamental Horticulture to come first, I understand growing comes behind health, education and defence, but politicians are meant to be clever people and where are they getting us.

Too many are promoting themselves not the country and certainly not our industry. We have individuals obsessed with self-importance - I wonder if they even understand the problems we face.

Prior to Brexit. we were starting to see a shortage of good workers; Brexit instantly magnified the problem. We need a Seasonal Workers Programme just for starters, it shouldn’t take an industry crisis before the government acts. Until the shelves are half empty or plate only half full, I really do believe we shall get nothing more than hot air.

“Give the job to local Brits,” we have heard. Let me tell you, they simply do not want this kind of work, they either don’t turn up or don’t last the day.

“Invest in technology,” we hear. That is only part of the answer - we need good people. It is not just about pay, although that can be remedied if the end customer wants to pay more for their food and flowers.

Brexit was about migrants; all that was needed was to know who comes in, for what and where they go. Can we answer that question any more today than we could when we voted? NO. But what we have done is make the migrant feel uneasy and unwelcome, which is a position we shall live to regret.