Government’s agriculture bill is a seven-year notice to quit for Cumbria’s farmers – MP

Local MP Tim Farron has hit out at the Government's new agriculture bill which announces a seven-year phasing out of direct payments for farmers.

At yesterday's Westmorland County Show, Tim met with representatives from the National Farmers' Union and the CLA, all of whom had major concerns about the bill's commitment to phasing out direct payments - payments which they say are lifelines for many farmers in the county.

Tim said: "Whether people agree with the idea of direct payments or not, removing them will hit upland farmers in Cumbria the most of all.

"The Government's seven-year phasing out of direct payments is effectively a seven-year notice to quit for our hill farmers.

"Not only would that be a tragedy for our farmers, it would damage our landscape and reduce Britain's ability to feed itself.

"Michael Gove just simply hasn't thought this through and, for the sake of hill farmers across the county, he must think again."