Political parties urged to be clear on agriculture

Snap election: NFU Scotland intends to hold hustings event

Scotland’s farmers’ union has called on every political party to set out a clear vision for agriculture and food production in manifestos ahead of the general election on June 8.

NFU Scotland (NFUS) also announced its intention to hold a national hustings event in the run-up to the vote.

Union president Andrew McCornick bemoaned the Prime Minister’s decision to hold the snap election and said the announcement would only add to mounting questions about the future when Scottish farmers, crofters and food producers were seeking “certainty and confidence in an uncertain, Brexit-dominated landscape”.

He added: “Clearly, this election will be fought on one overarching issue – Brexit.

“It is absolutely vital that the significant interests of the agricultural industry are heard properly in this election campaign given our clear interest in the Brexit negotiations.

“The manifesto process will allow every party the opportunity to flesh out exactly what they want from the Brexit process.

“It is vital that they take the opportunity to clearly state what their vision is for agriculture and food production in the post-Brexit era. NFUS will seek to influence and scrutinise those manifestos and, despite the relatively short timetable between now and the election, we will pull together our own document reiterating our priorities for Scottish farmers and crofters.”

Mr McCornick said the union would do all it could to ensure members were provided with the information they needed to make an informed decision.

Meanwhile Rural Secretary Fergus Ewing and Scotland’s Brexit Minister, Mike Russell, will give evidence today to the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy committee on the implications for farming and fishing of the vote to leave Europe.

Andrew McCornick bemoaned the Prime Minister’s decision.