ID cards for foreigners creates a crisis for sheep farmers

Last November NO2ID warned of the impact the Government's nasty "ID cards for foreigners" spin would have on our cultural and economic life.

We told the Government some people would decide Britain had become too unfriendly, that they would be put off coming here, and that the loss of their skilled labour would damage the economy.

Only months into the scheme, the Wool Marketing Board is warning of a crisis facing sheep farmers. They are unable to find the skilled labour to shear their sheep during the hot summer months.

This means wool goes unsold, and if we have hot weather livestock across the country will suffer.

The reason farmers can't attract the labour required is that the Australian and New Zealand shearers who come here annually have decided this year the cost, hassle, and intrusive bureaucratic process necessary to obtain a biometric ID card means it's no longer worth their effort.

Who can blame our cousins down under for not wanting to be guinea pigs for a scheme that could soon be unleashed on the rest of us. If this scheme continues you can be sure of one thing, it's not just the sheep that will be feeling the heat this summer.

Rosaleen Brennan Bristol No2id