NFUS election manifesto focuses on priority areas
NFU Scotland has fired the starting pistol for this year’s general election with a manifesto launch of five priority areas.
Speaking at West Craigie Farm near Edinburgh, NFUS president Martin Kennedy highlighted the role of agriculture to the Scottish and UK economy and said there was a need for long-term financial commitment from the UK government to support the development of Scotland’s agriculture sector.
He said: “Agricultural policy is devolved to Scotland, but there are so many things that are going to affect devolved administrations, particularly agriculture, that come from Westminster.
“We need to make sure the UK government understand how important agriculture is and given the unprecedented circumstances we are in just now, really needs us to focus on food security a lot more than we have done in the past.”
The Union said the seven-page document sets out specific requirements that Scottish agriculture will need to help meet its full potential and NFUS is seeking clear manifesto commitments from all the main Westminster parties.
It is also asking prospective UK parliamentary candidates to also back those asks outlined under five priority areas to deliver increased, ring-fenced and multi-annual funding; improve producer margins to increase food security; better access to skilled workers; protect domestic food production in future trade deals and increase fiscal incentives.
Mr Kennedy added: “It’s as good as certain there will be a General Election this year to create the next UK Government.
“While most policy, legislation and regulation which directly and indirectly relates to our interests in the future prosperity of Scottish agriculture is devolved to Holyrood and the Scottish Government, our attention and influence must also be fixed on Westminster.
“There are fundamental issues that are reserved to the UK Government, such as trade, migration, and internal market issues. Top of the list is the fundamental need to deliver increased, ring-fenced and multiannual funding.”
Policy director Jonnie Hall described the manifesto as ‘pretty sharp’ and ‘punchy’.
“This is focussed at politicians and potential politicians that will be sitting in Westminster. We are asking for at least an additional £1bn funding which will take the UK pot to around £4.7bn.”
However, he added that so far, on the Liberal Democrats had indicated support for the extra cash.
The Scottish Farmer asked Mr Kennedy if he would also encourage the next Westminster government and the Scottish government to work more constructively for the benefit of farmers.
He said: “Absolutely. It is in everybody’s interests, particularly in agriculture. There’s a lot point-scoring going on at the minute which is extremely frustrating and is not in the best interests of agriculture or indeed other industries as well, so we need to focus on that.
“There seems to be tensions there for obvious reasons, but that’s our problem.
“They need to try and get rid of these tensions and work together – it’s in the interests of themselves from and from an economic and food security perspective.”