Tories vow to maintain level of farm funding

THE CONSERVATIVES have pledged to maintain the current levels of funding for farmers for every year of the next parliament.

When the UK leaves the EU, it will quit the Common Agricultural Policy system of subsidies to farmers, which mostly pays them for the amount of land they farm, and is worth around £3.4bn a year to the sector.

Plans have been outlined to replace the subsidies in England with new schemes to pay farmers for delivering “public goods” such as animal welfare and environmental protection.

Before the General Election was called, the Government pledged to maintain the current level of cash support for farmers for the duration of the parliamentary term, which had been expected to run until 2022.

The latest announcement means current levels of support for farmers would be likely to continue until 2024.

The Tories also say a sevenyear transition will ensure farmers have time to adjust to the new system.

The Conservatives are also pledging to encourage the public sector to “buy British” food after Brexit. Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said: “Brexit provides a huge opportunity to transform British farming.

“By leaving the discredited Common Agricultural Policy, we can help British farmers become more productive at the same time as improving our natural environment.”

She added: “I am delighted to announce that a Conservative majority government would guarantee to match the current annual budget available to farmers in every year of the next parliament.”