“Good news for farmers, crofters and overheating sheep” – Carmichael welcomes government climbdown on shearers

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed the government’s climbdown today on visa access for sheep shearers. The government has agreed today to grant visas needed for sheep shearers from New Zealand and other countries to come to the UK for the shearing season, after being put under pressure in Parliament over the issue last week.

Mr Carmichael criticised reports that the government has said it will not re-issue shearer visas in 2027.

Mr Carmichael is Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, which questioned senior civil servants from DEFRA on the lack of sheep shearer visas last week. Under questioning from Mr Carmichael, Paul Kissack, the Permanent Secretary for the department admitted that he was unaware of the issue or any action being taken by his colleagues to mitigate it.

Concerns had been raised by farmers and crofters over the lack of shearers due to the government not granting visas, which risked a crisis in animal welfare with 1.5m sheep risking going unshorn this summer.

Mr Carmichael said:

“I am delighted that we have secured this visa climbdown for sheep shearers. This is good news for farmers and crofters, and good news for the 1.5 million overheating sheep which stood to suffer from this government misstep.

“It really should not take a string of awkward questions to senior civil servants at the EFRA Select Committee to get better policy on such a simple issue. If that is what is required, however, that is what we are going to continue to do.

“The government now needs to provide long-term clarity on this issue so that we do not run into the same problem again next year. Shearers require a tiny number of visas and represent a group of people who are no real risk of overstaying in the UK. If the government wants a more constructive relationship with farmers and crofters, this would be a good place to start.”

On reports that the government has told farming organisations that visas will not be re-issued in 2027, Mr Carmichael added:

“While sheep farmers have had a reprieve this year it is concerning that the government plans to reignite this same issue in 2027. There is no good cause to block the minuscule number of visas needed for sheep shearers and it suggests that ministers do not understand the industry they are working with. Reciprocal arrangements for shearers work well for our farmers – now is not the time to mess with them.”