05/05/2010Northern Ireland Leaders DebateThe last Northern Ireland leaders debate to take place before the election
- 04/05/2010Our Contract for Northern Ireland
David Cameron visited Northern Ireland today and reassured voters that Northern Ireland would never be singled out over and above any other part of the UK for public spending cuts.
- 02/05/2010Sir Reg Empey speaking at the Conservatives and Unionists manifesto launch
Sir Reg Empey speaking at the Conservatives and Unionists manifesto launch
- 29/04/2010Manifesto launch - Mike Nesbitt
Mike Nesbitt speaking at the launch of the Conservatives and Unionists manifesto
- 29/04/2010Manifesto launch - Lesley Macaulay
Lesley Macaulay speaking at the Conservatives and Unionists manifesto launch
- 26/04/2010Party Election Broadcast - 2
Second party election broadcast from the Conservatives and Unionists
- 26/04/2010Party Election Broadcast - 1
The first General Election Broadcast from the Conservatives and Unionists
- 11/07/2009Party Election broadcast by the Conservatives and Unionists
Party election broadcast by the Conservatives and Unionists
11/07/2009European manifesto launch - William HagueWilliam Hague speaking at the launch of the Conservatives and Unionists european manifesto - part 1 of 2.
11/07/2009Euro manifesto launchJim Nicholson speaking at the launch of the Conservatives and Unionists European manifesto
- 11/07/2009Sir Reg Empey - Manifesto launch
Sir Reg Empey speaking at the launch of the Conservatives and Unionists European manifesto launch
11/07/2009Cameron Direct - VictimsDavid Cameron answers questions on the status of victims of the troubles at Cameron Direct in Ballymena
11/07/2009Cameron Direct - BusinessDavid Cameron takes questions from the public on business at Cameron Direct in Ballymena
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - Education
David Cameron answers questions on education at Cameron Direct in Ballymena
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - Health
David Cameron answers questions on Health policy at Cameron Direct in Ballymena
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - Politics
David Cameron answers questions on the topic of politics and the current controversy surrounding MP's expenses.
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - Normalising politics
David Cameron answers questions on the normalisation of politics in Northern Ireland at Cameron Direct in Ballymena
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - Introduction
Cameron Direct - Introduction
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - PMS & Economy
David Cameron answers questions on the economy at Cameron Direct in Ballymena
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - part 1
Cameron Direct in Ballymena
- 11/07/2009Party Election Broadcast
Conservatives and Unionists party election broadcast
11/07/2009Jim talks on Hearts and Minds (Part 1)Jim Nicholson talks on Hearts and Minds (Part 1)
- 11/07/2009Jim talks on Hearts and Minds (Part 2)
Jim talks on Hearts and Minds (part 2)
11/07/2009Campaign LaunchCampaign Launch 2009
- 29/04/2010BBC NI Online election debate 2010
BBC NI Online election debate 2010
- 11/07/2009Conservative Party Election Broadcast
Party Election Broadcast by the Conservative Party
- 11/07/2009David Cameron MP addresses the UUP AGM
David Cameron MP addresses the UUP AGM
Jim Nicholson MEP and UUP representative
Nicholson warns that power of the supermarkets must be tackled head on
Speaking in a debate in the European Parliament this morning on the crisis facing the dairy sector, Conservative and Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has warned that until the power of the supermarkets in the supply chain is finally tackled, there will be no long term answers to the problems facing dairy farmers.
During the course of his remarks Mr Nicholson said,
"I really feel very strongly that the Commission were very late acting on this particular problem. They did sit on their hands for too long and many farmers have suffered because of that. We can decide to either help the industry or we let our farmers go out of business and import our products from aboard with all the problems that brings.
"I am happy with the Commissioner's remarks for the future but I am not happy with the remarks for the short term. We need to do more in the short term to help the industry through the present crisis and these short term measures require immediate action.
"I do not want to go back to the milk lakes and the Butter Mountains and I am sure no - one in the industry wants to go back to that situation.
"One of the main problems at the present moment is that while the farmers have taken a drastic reduction in what they are receiving for their milk, the consumer is paying almost the same as they paid before. Until we tackle the power of the supermarkets in this area we will not have the answer. They have got to be controlled. We need a supermarket ombudsman. Someone who can tell the supermarkets they are acting beyond their remit, ripping the farmers off and ripping consumers off too whilst putting farmers out of business in the process."
Mr Nicholson added,
"I cannot stress how important it is that both Europe and the Member States tackle head on the power of the supermarkets in the supply chain. The entire future of the European dairy industry is at risk if we expect farmers to continue producing milk at a loss."
