Victory for region’s farmers in EU cash row

The Westminster Government yesterday ruled that the four nations of the UK should continue to receive the same share of the Common Agricultural Policy budget for the next seven years.

The Scottish Government had argued that its share should be increased, claiming farmers north of the border suffer a raw deal.

In a joint statement, the presidents of the National Farmers Union, NFU Cymru and the Ulster Farmers Union said: “We are pleased that Ministers have listened to our representations and have decided to resist pressure from Scotland for an increased share that would have been at the expense of other parts of the UK.

“We believe this is a fair settlement for farmers across the United Kingdom.”

The decision was also welcomed by the Country Land and Business Assocation, which has around 34,000 members.

President Harry Cotterell said the organisation appreciated that in an age of austerity agriculture had to take its share of the cuts along with every other sector, but added: “We believe the fairest approach was simply to have the same percentage reduction across the UK.”

Richard Lochhead, Rural Affairs Secretary in the Scottish Government, described the settlement as “disgraceful”.