Thousands of farmers descend on Welsh Government over subsidy row

Thousands of farmers have descended on the Welsh Parliament in protest at a proposed (overhaul of farming subsidies they fear will threaten their industry.

They are objecting to proposals by the Welsh Labour government to require more land to be set aside for environmental schemes.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: “This Conservative government listens to farmers and is working with them to make farms more productive and profitable while protecting and enhancing our treasured natural heritage.

“Labour’s approach could not be more different, imposing top-down targets on agriculture that wipe out jobs and put farms out of business while dismissively brushing aside farmers’ concerns.

“Keir Starmer has no plan for farming. A Labour government would take our rural communities back to square one.”

Protesters, who had travelled from across the country to attend the event, cheered, waved Welsh flags and held placards in Welsh and English reading: “No Farmers, No Food”.

A series of protests have already taken place across Wales but the event in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday was the largest by far, attended by thousands of farmers.

The protesters are objecting to the sustainable farming scheme (SFS), which is currently under consultation and would require 10% of a farmer’s land to be covered in trees in exchange for future funding.

Farming leaders say the scheme could result in 5,500 job losses.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has the support of those protesting after he told a gathering outside the Welsh Conservative conference last week that “we’ve got your back”.

A Tory analysis has suggested 20,000 English farms would be forced out of business under a Labour government.

In Wales, Labour is forcing farmers to take up to 20 per cent of their land out of food production – with 10% being turned over to trees and an additional 10% to habitat creation.

Under Labour’s approach these requirements will apply equally to all farms.

The extension of this approach would mean the equivalent of 20,800 of the 104,000 farm holdings in England being forced to close, the Tories warned.

This would mean almost two million hectares of land being taken out of food production.

A Conservative source said: “No matter what Starmer might try to say, it is clear that it is the same old Labour.

“Labour aren’t on the side of farmers or farming and their approach would take the countryside back to square one.

“Only the Conservatives can be trusted to back British farming with more money, more choice and more trust.”

Shadow Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “Labour has no plans to introduce the Welsh scheme in England.

“We are committed to making the Environmental Land Management Scheme work.

“This Conservative government are trying to deflect attention from their horrific record that has decimated British farming.”

He added: “Labour will give British farmers their future back.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Farming is very important to Wales and our economy and we want a successful future for Welsh farming.

“We have had a seven-year conversation with farmers to design future farming support and we are committed to continuing to work with farmers to develop the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

“This is a genuine consultation and no decisions will be taken on any element of the proposal, including how we achieve the requirement for habitat and trees, until we have conducted a full analysis of the consultation responses.

“We have been clear we expect changes to be made following the consultation, and we will continue to listen.

“The First Minister and Rural Affairs Minister provided an update yesterday on a number of key areas to support the sector.”