Cherilyn Mackrory, Member of Parliament for Truro and Falmouth, has asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson for a meeting to discuss what more support for Cornish daffodil growers.
Speaker at Prime Minister’s Questions today, Cherilyn said:
“Last week, I met one of Truro’s daffodil farmers. There is real concern in the industry that they will not be able to have their daffodil pickers in the fields this January. I know that the Department for Work and Pensions is working with the Duchy College and is hoping to run a local sector-based work academy, but this is a complex issue requiring a long-term solution. I wonder whether the Prime Minister would meet me and other Cornish MPs to see how we could resolve this in the long term?”
In response the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said:
“I am only too happy to meet you at any time. I can assure her that we want to find the workforce to pick the flowers—the beautiful Cornish daffodils—that should not be “born to blush unseen”, if I remember the quote right. They should be properly picked. In addition to developing the local labour force, and making sure that we line up younger people and people across Cornwall with the opportunities that there are, she must not forget that, thanks to the EU settlement scheme, there are 6 million EU nationals still entitled to live and work in this country, who have taken advantage of that scheme. Never let it be said that we have done an injustice to that group.”
Speaking after the debate, Cherilyn said:
“I am pleased to have been able to raise this important matter to the very top of government on behalf of my constituents. It is crucial that our daffodil growers in Cornwall are supported and I was pleased to highlight an excellent of a local scheme to do just that with Duchy College and the DWP. I look forward to working with my Cornish MP colleagues and the Government to ensure they also receive continuing support from them”