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On the day after the Liberty and Livelihood March, the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) issued four press releases, all probably draft before the weekend, and none at all reassuring or concilliatory to the 400,000 who took to the streets of London. (520 words)

One related to the further withdrawal of the government from horticultural research, at a time when the industry was being urged to become more internationally competitive. Support for research is an area where the British government is not restricted by European Union and World Trade Organization restraints.

A second related to flood defences with particular reference to homes and business properties which have suffered from repeated flooding. It is possible that business properties included farms, although this was not evident from the news release.

Margaret Beckett, the Secretary of State for DEFRA chose to delegate the government's response to the March itself to her junior Rural Affairs Minister, Alun Michael, who implicitly accused the Countryside Alliance of causing division in the country side, reiterated that the government was addressing all issues raised by the alliance and called on it "to recognise the needs and problems faced by urban communities and not to give credence to the misconception of an urban rural divide."

The release was devoid of any concilliatory tone.

Meanwhile Beckett restricted herself to a news release promoting further regulation of livestock movement, despite almost certainly appreciating that many of the 400,000 were marching in protest against existing regulations.

And seemingly on queue DEFRA's vets announced a suspect case of foot and mouth to divert the public's attention.

DEFRA might claim that these news releases were drafted before the march and were in no way a reaction to it. The reality is that it has been known for some time that the march was taking place and that it would be a major demonstration.

The government might equally claim that the news releases were a fair representation of current government policy and that it had a legitimate mandate from the country as a whole, and that it was not going to be influenced by any demonstration of opposition from the countryside. The steamroller had a head of steam and there was no intention of pausing and losing momentum.

That may well be the truth of the matter. But in a political context the government has demonstrated gross political incompetence in the manner in which it has chosen to react. Any Minister worth their salt would, in view of the peaceful and good-natured character of the demonstration, have been on the street talking to their constituents.

The chosen strategy only serves to alienate the 400,000 who chose to march and probably many times that number who stayed at home for one reason or another. If there was a common thread to the very diverse interests of those demonstrating it was a sense of alienation. While the British economy continues to enjoy unprecedented prosperity, farmers and those dependent on the countryside for a livelihood continue to be faced with adversity and feel alienated.

The government's response will almost certainly galvanize the metal of those who marched.

September 24, 2002