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Campaigners fight for right to make cheese

Campaigners from Stilton in Cambridgeshire are taking their fight to the Government today to be allowed to make the cheese that bears the name of their village.

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Stilton fight goes on

Stilton in Cambridgeshire Credit: ITV News Anglia

The North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara says the fight to allow people in the village of Stilton to name the cheese they produce after the village will continue.

He joined a meeting between villagers and the food minister, and described the discussions as very useful. There are now plans for future talks.

Meet the cheese makers who are not allowed to name their product after the village where it's made

Villagers in Stilton near Peterborough have met the Farming Minister today, in their latest attempt to try and get permission to call the cheese they make there... Stilton.

Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara is backing their campaign saying it would boost jobs and tourism in the area.

"I want the Minister to be in no doubt whatsoever that we fit the criteria to be able to make cheese and call it Stilton.

Also, what I want is for his officials to work closely with Richard Landy, our local historian, and Liam McGivern, local businessman, to make sure that the next application that we put in will succeed."

– Shailesh Vara MP

The Stilton campaigners have since told ITV Anglia that Defra has agreed to work with them so that they can go through the process of submitting an application to Europe to make Stilton in Stilton.

Click below to watch a report from ITV News Anglia's Elodie Harper

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Cambridgeshire: Campaigners battle for right to make cheese that bears the name of their village

Stilton in Cambridgeshire. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Campaigners from Stilton in Cambridgeshire are taking their fight to the Government today to be allowed to make the cheese that bears the name of their village.

Campaigners want to be able to make the cheese. Credit: ITV News Anglia.

Under EU law, Stilton can only be made by a few dairies in the East Midlands, where it is believed to have originated.

The Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara is backing calls for a review of the decision.

"We hope the Minister will look favourably upon our application.

If he looks favourably, then we can proceed with buying new equipment so we can make the cheese.

We can also submit our application to DEFRA, and then to the European Union."

– Liam McGivern, Cheesemaker
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