Parties in NVZS clash
THE Welsh Conservatives have accused Plaid Cymru of betraying Welsh farmers after they dropped their opposition to the Labour government’s water regulations.
Plaid dismissed the charge, accusing the Conservatives of hypocrisy after the UK Government slashed farming subsidies.
As part of its deal with Plaid, the Welsh Government has secured backing for the Water Resources Regulations 2021 – the Wales-wide Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZS).
Plaid had previously opposed NVZS but will now conditionally support them as part of the agreement with Labour.
The Welsh Conservatives pointed out that all five of the constituencies won by Plaid Cymru in this year’s Senedd election – including leader Adam Price’s Carmarthen East and Dinefwr seat – are rural.
Senedd Conservatives have reiterated their opposition to NVZS, which they have described as a “sledgehammer to crack a nut”, claiming the regulations will see onerous new rules imposed nationwide, despite the identified pollution problems being localised and isolated.
In July this year, the National Farmers Union Cymru was granted permission by the High Court to judicially review the regulations.
Announcing his organisation’s challenge to the regulations, NFU Cymru president John Davies said: “NFU Cymru remains absolutely clear that an all-wales NVZ is indiscriminate and punitive. “It will affect every sector, every area of Wales and every farmer who will be subject to draconian record keeping, complex restrictions on the day-to-day running of their businesses and, for many, exorbitant costs.
“The strength of feeling over this regulation from not only farmers, but also from those thousands of farming businesses who rely on a productive farming sector, has been overwhelming and NFU Cymru is acting for each and every one of them.”
Shadow Rural Affairs Minister Samuel Kurtz said: “Plaid’s coalition with Labour has seen them throw Welsh farmers under the tractor. This coalition does nothing for rural Wales, focussing only on urban Wales, and shows Plaid take their vote for granted.
“Because Plaid MSS represent hugely rural areas, with many farmers as constituents, I did not expect them to take the first opportunity presented to them to totally dismiss the concerns of Welsh farmers and the industry – especially given the economic importance of agriculture.
“With Labour’s failures on Bovine TB and now Plaid’s U-turn on its NVZ opposition, the agricultural community are seeing no support from those in power in Wales.
“Farmers need a friend, and they certainly aren’t getting that from the Labour Government and their Plaid partners. While the nationalists are so easily bought, farmers can rest assured that the Welsh Conservatives will never turn their backs on them.”
Mid and West Wales MS Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru’s spokesman for agriculture and rural affairs, responded: “To accuse Plaid Cymru of betraying Welsh farmers merely a month after the Tories at Westminster slashed the Welsh agriculture and rural budget by £37m is nothing short of blatant hypocrisy. The Co-operation Agreement between Plaid Cymru and Labour has ensured many key concessions that will benefit the Welsh agriculture sector.
“In particular, Plaid has fought hard to ensure a good deal for Welsh farmers – securing commitments to maintaining stability payments, strengthening local procurement, and securing greater emphasis on local control and ownership of woodland creation. While the agreement enshrines deploying the Water Resources Regulations 2021, it crucially ensures an approach targeted on those activities known to cause pollution.
“Earlier this year, Plaid Cymru jointly led on securing a unanimous decision in the Senedd to review the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) measures – a process currently delegated to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee.
“I am also aware of an ongoing judicial review being undertaken of the regulations at the request of the NFU. I look forward to the outcomes of both committee and judicial proceedings and expect the conclusions to be fully considered by the Welsh Government prior to the implementation of any anti-pollution regulations.”