‘Take a positive view of Brexit’

A call for a more positive approach to the debate about post-brexit farm subsidies in the UK has been made at the end of a week which saw political tussles between the Scottish and UK governments over the issue.

The Scottish Parliament’s shadow rural affairs secretary, Peter Chapman, said that the Conservative’s pledge to maintain current support levels for the duration of the current parliament provided some short-term assur- ance but stressed that the discussion should now be focused on the new system which would have to be developed as the UK prepared to leave the EU.

“It is right that politicians and the farming industry debate all of the issues around Brexit, but at the moment, the discussion is focused in the wrong direction,” said Chapman.

“We should be talking about what the new system of farm payments will look like … and the crucial thing is how we devise a system going forward that better serves agriculture in Scotland and the UK.”

Chapman, who farms in Aberdeenshire, said that it was well known that EU farming policy was “far from perfect” and added that the country now had the opportunity for a fairer system of support which worked in the interests of local producers.

He said the country needed a system which was easier to apply for and easier to administer. “I would like to see a more positive debate on that basis. Brexit is happening, whether we voted for it or not, and we need to take a pragmatic approach to ensure the best possible outcome,” he said.