Scottish Secretary David Mundell yesterday gave assurances that government was listening to the farming industry and committed to ensuring the best deal possible for farmers in Brexit negotiations.
Speaking following a meeting with NFU Scotland at East Lothian Produce in Haddington, the Tory minister said farmers and crofters should feel more secure following Chancellor Philip Hammond’s commitment to honour all Common Agricultural Policy Pillar 1 payments to 2020.
“Agriculture is an incredibly important industry and the UK Government recognises that,” said Mr Mundell.
“And as we reach our negotiating position for leaving Europe we have to make sure that the issues and concerns [of farmers] are reflected.”
Key priorities during negotiations would be securing trade markets with Europe and access to labour, added Mr Mundell.
He admitted it was a “time of great uncertainty” but said it also presented an opportunity to create a food and farming policy that best suited UK and Scottish farmers.
“It’s very difficult to envisage a situation where agriculture would not be supported but let’s have the debate and discussion about how best to do that,” said Mr Mundell.
“But the first priority is to get the best deal for Scottish farmers out of the Brexit negotiations.”
NFU Scotland president Allan Bowie, who attended the meeting with the Scottish Secretary and East Lothian Produce owners the McCullagh and Logan families, warned government not to use agriculture as a bargaining chip in Brexit negotiations.
He said: “NFU Scotland has set out the key priorities, as agreed with the other UK farming unions, that seek to secure the best possible deal on future investment, trade, access to labour and agricultural support. It’s vital early work gets underway now, kick-started by government but with participation from the whole supply chain to put agriculture on a strong footing in negotiations.
“The Union remains clear that while the outcome of the vote brings a period of significant uncertainty, it also presents an opportunity to negotiate the best possible deal to support our farming and food sectors, including a new agricultural support system that is appropriate and sensitive to our national context.”
