In the last seven days, UK growers’ unions have made renwewed calls for a clampdown on the handling of suppliers by the country’s retailers, while a parliamentary committee has promised to listen to views on CAP reform at the Royal Show next month.

I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that both of these initiatives amount to nothing more than the expenditure of large amounts of hot air to appease the UK grower base.

The NFU’s call is laudable at least, but to think that a group of British politicians is in any way committed to changing the path of British horticulture is risible. They might listen, and they also promise to “stimulate debate”, but that is about all that cross-party groups of politicians can do.

They are in no position to alter seriously the course of history, but it makes them feel important. As did Conservative MP Bill Wiggin, who took some stick on this page last week. He is now denying he ever called for polytunnel legislation, despite having said exactly that on local radio.

We live in a soundbite world and no political party has been sensible enough to steer clear of the labyrinth of lies and counter-lies that has rendered all but a few UK politicians impotent, particularly on side-show issues, such as horticulture. And if you don’t believe it’s a side-show, read this week’s Bushel Box.