Swann Welcomes One-Year Sheep Shearing Extension but Warns of 2026 Cut-Off

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has welcomed the government's decision to extend the visa concession for temporary sheep shearers until 30 June 2026, but expressed serious concern that the exemption is set to end there.

The move follows confirmation to Mr Swann that the Home Office will not extend the concession into 2027, despite the UK’s heavy reliance on a foreign workforce, particularly from Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Swann said:

"While I welcome the fact this has been extended by an additional year beyond 2025, I am concerned that the government plans to end the concession in 2026. Sheep shearing is a highly skilled, physically demanding and seasonal task. At present, our domestic workforce does not have the numbers to meet demand in a timely way.

"We need to see urgent investment from both Defra and DAERA for training and support for our own workforce, as we currently rely heavily on shearers from the Southern Hemisphere. There is a major animal welfare element to this as well. We must ensure those doing the work have the right skills and the ability to handle livestock properly.

"This concession has been in place for 14 years without incident or any danger to UK security. It is a safe system that is clearly working. If the government is going to pull the plug by 2027, they must first ensure our own domestic workforce is ready to fill the gap. Without that investment and training, our sheep sector will be left in a very difficult position."