NFU Scotland meets with Scotland Office Minister, Treasury and MPs at Westminster
NFU Scotland has used two days lobbying at Westminster to underline the huge contribution that Scottish farmers and crofters make to the nation’s economy, its environment and its wildlife.
The Union is steadfast in its call for the for the agricultural budget, and Scotland’s share of that budget, to be increased when the new UK Government’s first budget is announced at the end of the October. NFU Scotland’s budget submission was delivered to the UK Government last week.
Over two days, NFU Scotland held budget discussions with Scotland Office Minister Kirsty MacNeill MP as well as Scotland Office and Treasury officials. NFU Scotland was also amongst the first to meet with Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael following his appointment as chair of the influential cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee which scrutinises the work of Defra in parliament.
Participating in today’s Back British Farming celebrations in Westminster, alongside fellow UK farming Unions, NFU Scotland saw the number of newly elected or re-elected MPs met in the past 48 hours rise to more than 20. Agricultural budget was the focus of those discussions.
In the weeks ahead, NFU Scotland will be attending the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool and will be back in Westminster in early October for a meeting with Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner MP.
Speaking from Westminster, NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy said: “On 30 October, when the new UK Government produces its first budget, we will know to what extent it backs British farming.
“The Labour party manifesto for the recent General Election made no mention of its plans for agricultural funding but it has stated that it views food security as national security. It is time to back that up with funding rather than words.
“It was essential for Scottish farming and crofting that NFU Scotland was in Westminster this week, and we will be lobbying hard between now and the budget announcement for an increased, multi-annual, ring-fenced agriculture and rural economy funding commitment.
“We provided all those that we have met this week with clear evidence of all that a thriving farming and crofting sector in Scotland delivers in relation to food security, climate change and nature, rural communities and economic growth.
“We appreciate that there is significant pressure on the overall UK Budget, however agricultural funding must be considered in the context of all that our farmers and crofters deliver.
“There has been a real terms erosion in the value of current support at the same time farmers and crofters are being tasked with more in terms of policy objectives. We are making the crystal-clear case to the UK Government, Treasury and MPs for enhanced government funding enable us to deliver these vital outcomes.”
Notes for Editors
- The NFU Scotland delegation in Westminster were President Martin Kennedy, Vice President Alasdair Macnab, Director of Policy Jonnie Hall and Political Affairs Manager Beatrice Morrice.
- In its two-day visit to Westminster, the NFU Scotland delegation met with the following MPs who were elected or re-elected in the recent General Election – Kirsty McNeill (Lab and Under Secretary of State for Scotland), Steve Reed (Lab and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Alistair Carmichael (Lib Dem chair of EFRA Committee), Graeme Downie (Lab), Joani Reid (Lab), Stephen Gethins (SNP), Lillian Jones (Lab), Pamela Nash (Lab), Dave Doogan (SNP), Richard Baker (Lab), Chris Kane (Lab), John Cooper (Con), Peter Wishart (SNP), Angus MacDonald (Lib Dem), Seamus Logan (SNP), Harriet Cross (Con), Andrew Bowie (Con), Graham Leadbitter (SNP), David Mundell (Con), John Lamont (Con and Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland), Elaine Stewart (Lab), Tim Farron (Lib Dem spokesperson on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
- The infographic provided to MPs on Back British Farming Day on the contribution of Scotland’s farmers and crofters is attached.
- A copy of NFU Scotland’s budget briefing provided to MPs is attached.
- A wider selection of photos from meetings is also available on request from media@nfus.org.uk
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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006