This week, the Liberal Democrats again tried to keep English farmers tied to the EU's bureaucratic and tiresome Common Agricultural Policy, by trying to shout down legislation for new farming schemes.
Under the CAP, 50% of the budget went to the wealthiest 10% of landowners. It did very little to support food production or environmental improvements.
It also burdened our farmers with a complex system of rules about the maximum width of a gateway or whether a cabbage and cauliflower are the same for the purposes of the three crop rule. The Conservative Government have scrapped these draconian rules and penalties, so that they can instead work with farmers to boost their productivity and profitability whilst also improving our domestic food security and environment.
Under the Conservative Government’s new schemes, farmers will be rewarded for the work that they do as stewards of our natural environment. The Conservatives are investing £2.4bn per year in the foundations of food security from healthy soil to clean and plentiful water, alongside productivity and innovation.
Farming Minister, Mark Spencer MP, said "What a surprise - the Lib Dems would keep us tied to the EU's Common Agricultural Policy which did nothing for farmers or food security. The CAP gave half the budget to the largest 10% of landowners and dumped an expensive and bureaucratic rulebook on our farmers. We are doing better for them."
Maria Caulfield MP said “By shouting down this legislation today, the Liberal Democrats have tried to continue funnelling money to the largest landowners and showed that they have no interest in supporting our farmers or food security.
“I regularly meet with farmers from across the Lewes constituency to listen to their thoughts and concerns.
“At a time when farmers need certainty, the Liberal Democrats have proved - again - that they cannot and will not rise to the challenge.”