MP urges DEFRA Secretary to prioritise food production in new farming payment schemes

This afternoon, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has written to DEFRA Secretary Thérèse Coffey, asking for farmers to be rewarded for producing food as part of the Government's new payment scheme.

The Environmental Land Management Scheme aims to pay farmers for the work they do looking after the environment. However this includes landowners being paid for leaving fields left unfarmed, with fears this could lead to less food being produced here in the UK and the effect that could have on the price of food in the shops for people and families who are already struggling with the cost of living.

Writing to the Secretary of State, Tim said "At a time when food prices are soaring, and Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine is leading to supply chains being blocked, our food security has never been more important.

"As a country, we import 40% of the food we eat.

"This has clear negative consequences for our economy, for our fight against climate change, for the ability of the poorest in our country to feed themselves, and on the price of food for the poorest people around the world.

"If this is not addressed then we run a serious risk of seeing the demise of farming in the country.

"Therefore I urge you and your ministers to think again. A country that cannot feed itself is set to fail."