Farm workers enraged at Liberal Democrat agriculture minister David Heath's support for closure of the AWB in England and Wales have pledged to return for the MP's surgery in Frome, Somerset.

Workers, supported by activists from trade union Unite, have said they will lobby Mr Heath in protest against the proposed closure of the Agricultural Wages Board, which negotiates pay and conditions for 150,000 agricultural workers. Mr Heath has come under fire over the unpopular policy, as the minister publicly opposed scrapping the board prior to accepting his current position.

Unite reports that over 60 percent of responses to the government's consultation on AWB closure were in favour of retaining the board, a path the devolved governments of Northern Ireland and Scotland have elected to take. The Welsh government, which also opposes Westminster's plans, has suggested setting up a similar arbitrating body in Wales if efforts to save the wage board prove unsuccessful.  

A Unite spokesperson said activists would descend on Mr Heath's surgery on Saturday to "drive home" their message. National agriculture officer Julia Long added on Wednesday, "David Heath is being lobbied as he is responsible for driving through the proposed abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board, having previously supported for it.

"Unite will be campaigning strongly in the run-up to the vote to retain the Agricultural Wages Board. Supermarkets and the growers, who supply them, are behind the AWB’s abolition proposal as they want to drive down workers’ wages to poverty levels." 

The next key date in the struggle over the Agricultural Wages Board will be 16th April, when MPs will vote on the board's future.