Switch to an accessible version of this website which is easier to read. (requires cookies)

"Supermarkets fine is just a sticking plaster - its time for radical surgery! " - Farron

December 7, 2007 3:00 PM

Liberal Democrat MP and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hill Farming Tim Farron has welcomed the fine handed out to Asda and Sainsbury's in light of their guilty plea to price-fixing charges, but has said the fine was nowhere near sufficient.

The Office of Fair Trading found that while the price for milk and other dairy products in the supermarkets went up, the price paid to farmers did not. Both supermarkets and a number of dairy processors have been handed fines totalling £116m.

Tim Farron said:

"With the cost to the farmers and consumers of this outrageous price fixing put at £270m, this fine seems well short of the mark. Given the soaring profits of supermarkets and large dairy processors I think the OFT could have gone further.

"In light of this episode I want to see the Government introduce an independent market regulator for supermarkets to ensure that farmers and consumers are never exploited in this way again."

What would you like to do next?

  • Subscribe for updates

    Read updates from this website in your desktop or online news reader

    • On a news reader website

      •  
      •  
      •  

      In a desktop news reader or a website not listed above

      •  
    • Example monthly digest email
      •  
      •  
      •  

    • If you submit your contact details, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats, and their elected representatives may use the information you provide to contact you about issues you may find of interest. Some of the contacts may be automated. You can opt out of these contacts at any time by contacting us.


    • Generate different image

    Join our email list

    • If you submit your contact details, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats, and their elected representatives may use the information you provide to contact you about issues you may find of interest. Some of the contacts may be automated. You can opt out of these contacts at any time by contacting us.


    • Generate different image

    Follow the party's activity on...

  • Share this page

    Share this page on another website

    Link to this page

    On websites and printed material:
    timfarron.co.uk/en/article/2007/105088/supermarkets-fine-is-just-a-sticking-plaster-its-time-for-radical-surgery-farron
    In text messages, Twitter, or reading over the phone:
    tf.lib.dm/a84vT

    Email this page to a friend


    • Generate different image

    Print this page

  • Help out or donate

    Help out in your local area

      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  

    • If you submit your contact details, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats, and their elected representatives may use the information you provide to contact you about issues you may find of interest. Some of the contacts may be automated. You can opt out of these contacts at any time by contacting us.


    • Generate different image

    Join the Liberal Democrats

  • Tell us what you think

    Send us your views

    If you are a resident of the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency and are writing to discuss any issue that Parliament or government is responsible for, you must provide your home address as MPs are generally only permitted to act on behalf of constituents.

    If you are not a constituent, you do not need to provide your address, but the matters we can deal with are more limited and you may wish to contact your local MP in the first instance.

    • If you agree, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats, and their elected representatives may use the information you provide to contact you about issues you may find of interest. Some of the contacts may be automated. You can opt out of these contacts at any time by contacting us.


    • Generate different image

    Contact us by email, post, or phone