When will fiasco end?

Senior politicians didn't think it necessary to inform the industry

It is often said that a week can be a long time in politics. For Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing, the reality has been different. Time can pass very quickly indeed.

It is now more than a year since he stood in the Holyrood chamber proclaiming that he would “fix” the problems with Common Agricultural Policy (Cap) payments for Scottish farmers and crofters.

Twelve months on, however, and nothing of the sort has happened. The SNP government has once again had to beg Brussels for an extension to the EU deadline for processing funds.

At a Holyrood committee meeting earlier this week, the cabinet secretary admitted that nearly one in five farmers had still not received this year’s payments. He insisted that the £178million computer system was “fundamentally sound” – it is just not working properly yet.

An Audit Scotland report pointed out that many millions more may be required to solve issues with the system, while also warning that there was no disaster recovery system in place.

Given the massive problems faced by British Airways when the air giant’s computers failed, the impact of a similar crash would likely be catastrophic for the farming industry.

There are many in my constituency – and in rural areas across Scotland – who are wondering just when this hugely expensive fiasco will come to an end.

I was at the Royal Highland Show earlier this month, and talked to many farmers from Aberdeenshire and beyond, who talked about how appallingly poor the SNP government’s handling of Cap payments has been.

Nicola Sturgeon apologised to the farming community, a year after Mr Ewing had done the same thing for the same reason. However, many were left wondering why the first minister had not informed the industry that her government would be seeking another extension from the EU.

The opportunity was certainly there to inform the public, if not farming bodies directly. Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson asked Ms Sturgeon three times at FMQs if the government had approached the EU to seek an extension. Three times the question was not answered.

This came a day after North East MSP Peter Chapman asked the same thing of Mr Ewing. Again, no response.

Of course, the SNP government had applied for the extension days earlier. It was even discussed at Cabinet on the Tuesday. Senior politicians just didn't think it necessary to inform the farming industry, MSPs or the public, even when directly asked.

Whatever went on, this suggests a government that is secretive and unwilling to take responsibility when things go wrong.

Businesses and families in rural areas want certainty and straight-talking. They do not want to be fobbed off or kept in the dark.

That is one reason why I believe the Conservative commitment to continuing the same level of farm payments up until 2022 has been welcomed.

We are providing certainty in the short-term, and allowing time to draw up a new, fairer system for subsidy support as the UK leaves the EU.

I am not suggesting for a second that will be straightforward. It will require industry and all levels of government to work together to make sure that we can agree the best possible deal.

But that brings me to another strong message that I received at the Royal Highland Show. People are realistic about where we are, they know that the UK is leaving the EU, and we have to make the best of that, no matter which way we voted.

People in the farming sector want certainty and stability and a clear way ahead so that they can plan and grow their businesses, not just for the next five years, but for the next 10, 15, 20 years.

It is clear to me that those in our rural economy – and indeed many across the country – do not want another referendum on Europe, another general election and certainly not another referendum on Scottish independence.

My message to the SNP is threefold – deliver for our farmers, put the independence campaign to one side and work in the national interest with all the devolved administrations and the Westminster government to get the best possible Brexit deal.