EXCLUSIVE - John Milne: 'We want small abattoirs to be seen as critical national infrastructure'

Liberal Democrat MP John Milne writes on the vital role small abattoirs play to support food security, local meat supply chains, higher animal welfare and economic growth. However, he sheds light on why they face increasing pressure to remain operational

John Milne

17 April 2026 • 3 min read

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Horsham MP John Milne said: "Farms that once had a straightforward local route to market now face much harder choices, and with 43% of farmers nationally saying they would have to give up local meat sales entirely if their nearest abattoir shut, the consequences of further closures are clear."

Despite the importance of the food sector, the number of abattoirs in the UK has declined from around 2,500 in the 1970s to just 203 today. The effects have been devastating for small farms and local...

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