Silent Sutton Must Go

The agriculture industry has made it clear it has no confidence in Minister of Agriculture Jim Sutton, says National’s Agriculture spokesman, David Carter.

His comments follow reports that five branches of Federated Farmers – Auckland, Nelson, West Coast, Marlborough and Bay of Plenty – have formally passed votes of no confidence in Mr Sutton.

“This unprecedented display of ill feeling has developed over the past five years because of Mr Sutton’s ineffectual representation of rural concerns,” says Mr Carter.

“He is now known as ‘Silent Sutton’.

“The Fart Tax, the public access along waterways fiasco, and more than 30 new or increased taxes and levies since 1999 have fuelled the anger of rural New Zealand.

“Helen Clark should acknowledge these genuine concerns – now cemented throughout the farming community – and immediately replace ‘Silent Sutton’ with someone who will vigorously represent rural New Zealand around the cabinet table,” says Mr Carter.

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