Reflections from a retired rural vicar

Any mention of Brexit raises strong feelings.  Passions run deeply on both sides.  There are feelings of anger, frustration and impotence - again on both sides of the argument.  Some people respond by shouting louder. Others switch off all together. I've met people who simply switch off the news whenever Brexit is mentioned.  Friends and families are hesitant to talk about it for fear of damaging relationships.  So it is with considerable hesitation that I write about it. It is, of course,  a fallacy that anyone can be an objective neutral on this (or any) subject.  We all come with our own insights- or prejudices. So, in order that you know my insights/prejudices,  I voted remain, took part in the march for a second referendum and voted for a remain party in the recent European elections.  I suspect that some of you will have already switched off mentally if not actually closed this page!  For those still here, some though...

Click the picture to listen to the blog   Or perhaps more accurately some thoughts on crime affecting farmers.  There have been a number of things recently that has brought rural crime to my mind:- Recent publicity over livestock thefts particularly in Northamptonshire/Warwickshire - Richard Coles (ex Communards, BBC presenter) tweeted about it. NFU Mutual have just published a report, Harper Adams University has been carrying out research, a local farmer has suffered loss, and a conversation in a pub So what's happening with crime against farmers. The NFU Mutual report shows that last year, 2018, theft of agricultural vehicles (tractors and such like) was up 26% to £7.4m. Theft of Quad bikes was up 10% at £2.6m. Theft of livestock was up 4% at £2.5m.  Behind those headline figures there are stories of real people suffering financial and emotional loss.   One local farmer, a delightful hardworking family with bits and pieces of parcels of land that h...