As the UK prepares to head to the polls this week, read the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) summary of the main UK parties rural and agricultural positions below:
Main UK Parties Muted on Manifesto Commitments to Tenanted Sector
Disappointingly, none of the three main UK Political Parties have made any reference to picking up the baton of the recommendations contained within the Rock Review into agricultural tenancies in their Political Party manifestos. Only the Conservatives make any reference to tenant farming, by referencing their commitment to ensure that Environmental Land Management Schemes are accessible by tenant farmers. Of its four priorities for the next Government, the TFA has said that full implementation of the recommendations of the Rock Review must be top of the agenda. All of the work has already been done and, prior to the announcement of the General Election, there was already cross-Party support. As soon as the next Government is elected, the TFA will be pressing for commitments, in respect of the Rock Review. To read the comments of TFA National Chair, Robert Martin, on the TFA’s four priorities for the next Government, click here and to watch TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn, explain those priorities, click here. In addition, the TFA has argued that any additional funding provided to the sector, as promised by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, should be focused on driving greater fairness within supply chains, by expanding the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator, so that farmers and growers get a fairer share of market returns. A summary of the rural and agricultural positions, from the main UK Parties, are provided below:
Very Little Detail on Agriculture From Labour Party
The Labour Party launched it’s General Election manifesto on Thursday of last week. Following the extent to which the Labour Party saw its poll lead dissipate over the course of the 2019 General Election, on the back of considerable scrutiny of its comprehensive election manifesto, we were not expecting great detail. In that respect, particularly for agriculture, it did not disappoint. In the section on environment, food and rural affairs, it focused on a promise to create nine new national river walks, three new national forests, with millions of trees, and expanding nature rich habitats.
However, the manifesto did lay out a commitment to set a target for half of all food purchased across the public sector to be locally produced, or certified to higher environmental standards. If elected, a Labour Government would introduce a land use framework and seek to make the new Environmental Land Management schemes “work for farmers and nature”. On bovine TB, a Labour Government would seek to find alternative measures to eradicate bovine TB, rather than culling badgers. On trade, a Labour Government would seek a veterinary agreement to prevent “unnecessary” border checks, but would promote high standards for food production for imported food. To access the Labour Party manifesto in full, click here.
Extra £1 Billion Promised for Farming Over Next Parliament – NO Clarity on How It Will Be Spent
The Conservative Party manifesto headlined its desire to drive a greater degree of accountability from bodies such as Natural England and the Environment Agency. The manifesto reiterated the commitment of the current Government to its tree planting and peatland restoration commitments, to be delivered through the Nature for Climate Fund. It has committed to designating an eleventh National Park and to enhance funding to existing National Parks and other protected landscapes. Within the Environmental Land Management Scheme, Landscape Recovery would be targeted at more local projects. Public access to the countryside, short of a universal right to roam, would be prioritised through voluntary schemes and through the creation of new national trails. Penalties for fly tipping would be enhanced and councils would be given new powers to tackle offenders.
The Conservative Party has also committed to increase the farming budget by a further £1 billion over the life of the next Parliament and ensure that the funding is index linked. Alongside a new UK wide £20 million farming innovation fund, the Conservatives have also committed to ring-fence agricultural funding for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A legally binding target to enhance food security, would be introduced alongside a target for at least 50% of public food procurement to be sourced locally, or to higher environmental production standards. Planning reform would be introduced to deliver “fast track” permissions for new farm infrastructure. On trade deals, the Conservatives have committed to “always stand up for our farmers when negotiating new trade deals”. To that end, a new Conservative Government would commit that all food and drink products imported into the UK, including those from countries the UK has trade agreements with, must comply with the UK’s high standards. To read the Conservative party manifesto in full, click here.
Additional £5 Billion of Funding for Farming Over Next Parliament – However Significant Environmental Focus
The Liberal Democrats General Election manifesto has set out a commitment to introduce “a general duty of care” for the environment and human rights in all business operations and supply chains. It wants binding commitments to protect the natural environment, with a target to “double nature” by 2050, focusing on the area of protected sites, wildlife habitats and woodland. The Liberal Democrats want to strengthen the Office for Environmental Protection and provide further funding to the Environment Agency and Natural England. There is an aim to increase the amount of accessible green space and designating new “National Nature Parks”. New developments will be required to deliver enhanced biodiversity net gain, with larger developments being required to deliver more (up to 100% net gain). The Liberal Democrats would introduce a strategic land and sea use framework and empower Local Nature Recovery Strategies to deliver a new “Wild Belt” for nature recovery. It aims to ensure that the UK has the highest environmental standards in the world and that at least 30% of land and seas will be protected for nature by 2030. National and local citizen assemblies will be established, to involve people in decisions related to mitigating and adapting to climate change. Peatlands would be restored for their carbon benefits and the routine burning of heather on peatlands would be banned. Temperate rainforests would be protected and enhanced, along with habitats such as saltmarshes, mudflats and seagrass meadows. The Liberal Democrats want to focus on nature-based solutions, including tree planting, to tackle climate change. The Liberal Democrats would introduce a “holistic and comprehensive National Food Strategy to ensure food security, tackle rising food prices, end food poverty and improve health and nutrition”. The rollout of Environmental Land Management schemes would be accelerated, with an additional £1 billion of expenditure allocated in each year of the next Parliament. The Liberal Democrats would maintain high health, environmental and animal welfare standards in food production and guarantee that all future trade deals will meet those standards. In addition, comprehensive veterinary and plant health agreements would be sought with EU countries to assist with freer trade. Farmers would be incentivised to restore woodland, restore peatland, create new natural flood protections and to manage land to encourage species recovery and carbon storage alongside producing food. There will be investment in farmer advice and support services, including assistance to reduce diffuse pollution. There will be investment in rural infrastructure, including local abattoirs, and public procurement policy would be used to support the consumption of food produced to high standards of environmental and social sustainability. Trade deals with Australia and New Zealand would be renegotiated to ensure high standards of imported product, alongside enhanced domestic laws on animal welfare. On bovine TB, the Liberal Democrats commit to develop safe, effective, humane and evidenced-based ways of controlling the disease, including by investing in the production of workable vaccines. In addition, there will be clearer food labelling. The Liberal Democrats have also said that they want to work with, and reward, farmers to reduce the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides. To read the Liberal Democrat manifesto in full, click here.
Farm Budget is Unclear for Reform UK Despite it Pledging to “British agriculture back on its feet”
Reform UK has chosen not to publish a traditional manifesto. Instead, it has published a ‘contract’ with the people of the UK. In its contract Reform UK has pledged to “Revitalise Britain’s agriculture to give a much-needed boost to our farmers and guarantee the country’s food security” It has pledged to scrap climate-related farming subsidies (such as ones for Solar and rewilding). However, wants to protect the environment by tree planting. One area which remains unclear is its spending pledge for UK farmers. In the first 100 days it plans to boast the farming budget to £3b. However, currently the UK farming budget stands at £3.3b, so on the surface this looks like a reduction of £0.3, not a boost. The cost pledges then get further confused as towards the end of their “contract” they pledge £2b to agriculture. That’s a drop of £1.3b from the current spend. With this confusion in mind, here are all their pledges in full:
In its first 100 days, it is proposing the following reforms:
Increase the Farming Budget to £3 Billion* – Focus on smaller farms. Keep farmland in use. Bring young people into farming. Boost rural economy and culture. Increase innovation and diversification. Help farmers to farm, not pay them to leave or retire. *TFA Note: The funding part of their pledge is unclear and looks confused. The current UK farming budget is £3.3b, so capping at £3b would be a reduction of £0.3b!
Scrap Climate-Related Farming Subsidies – Productive land must be farmed, not be used for solar farms or rewilding. Replace current subsidies with direct payments. Stop Natural England from taking action that damages farmers.
Protect Country Sports – These increase investment and help conservation of our environment. They boost rural jobs, communities and local economies.
Thereafter Reform UK propose to focus on:
Stop Supermarket Price Fixing – Grant powers to the Competitions and Markets Authority to ensure fair pricing. Help farmers sell their produce directly to the public. Change planning laws to support farm shops with zero business rates.
Buy British. Buy Quality – Target 70% to ensure food security. Taxpayer funded organisations should source 75% of their food from the UK. Clear labelling for consumer choice. Boost smaller food processors and abattoirs through tax breaks and other incentives.
Farming not Form Filling – Many farmers spend over 15 hours a week on paperwork. Cut red tape from HMRC and the British Cattle Movement Service.
To read the Reform UK ‘contract’ with the people of the UK in full, click here.
