BRECON and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones has hit back at critics following “disinformation” being spun by the Welsh Government over the significant slashing of Welsh agriculture funding.

Farming bodies and the Powys Liberal Democrats criticised the UK Conservative Government for slashing Welsh agriculture funding by 28 per cent in the November Spending Review.

In it, presented by Chancellor Rishi Sunak earlier this week, the UK Government announced funding for Welsh agriculture would total £242million for the next year.

This is in contrast to the £337million of EU funding currently given to Wales, a drop of £95million – roughly 28 per cent.

It sparked an almighty row in rural Mid Wales, but Ms Jones condemned Welsh Government disinformation and claims her party has delivered on its commitments delivered at the Conservative Party 2019 manifesto to guarantee the current annual budget to farmers in every year of this Parliament. She said the UK Government is doing this through a combination of remaining EU funding which the Welsh Government is continuing to benefit from and replacement funding from the Treasury where EU funding has tapered off.

“I want to be absolutely clear that the UK Government has delivered on our commitment to maintain the level of funding to farmers in Wales and will continue to do so for the remainder of this Parliament,” said Ms Jones.

“Last year the Welsh Government received a total of £337 million in agricultural funding, and this year they will also receive a total of £337 million.

“The Welsh Government has threatened to remove farmer’s direct payments to pay for schemes that they have overcommitted to when they still have an estimated £1.8 billion in emergency funding they have yet to spend. This is on top of the £1.3 billion extra that the Chancellor confirmed for the Welsh Government in Wednesday’s Spending Review.”

Ms Jones criticised what she described as “dog whistle politics” of the Lib Dems.

“When I worked at the NFU, we loudly criticised the Welsh Government for taking 15 per cent of the Basic Payment directly out of farmers pockets and putting it the Rural Development Programme for Wales,” she added.

“This has not been spent. Welsh Labour took money from farmers with no idea what to do with it.

“Before anyone falsely accuses the UK Government of cutting Welsh agricultural support, I would suggest they ask the Welsh Government why they are taking money away from hard-working farmers when they have so much money left in their pot.

County Times:

FUW president Glyn Roberts.

“Finally, the dog whistle politics we have seen from the former MP for Brecon and Radnorshire beggars belief. She should start by asking her colleague who she wants to replace why the Liberal Democrats allowed the Welsh Government to take money directly from farmers and then waste it.”

Following the review the Lib Dems called on Ms Jones and Montgomeryshire counterpart Craig Williams to speak out against the move and vote against the spending review if the decision is not reversed.

“Apparently doing ‘whatever it takes’ does not extend to supporting our farmers,” said Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

“This Conservative Government was elected on an explicit promise to protect the future of farming funding – now we see that promise was hollow. These savage cuts will decimate farms, big and small, if they are not reversed.

“Now it is time for our MPs to find their backbone and take a stand for our farmers. Will they stand by their manifesto commitment, or will they continue to loyally toe the party line and attempt to spin their way out of this situation?”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales branded the decision a ‘Brexit betrayal’. FUW president Glyn Roberts said: “The decision to slash the budget is a complete betrayal of the farmers who have kept producing food and feeding the nation throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and adds to the extreme anger already felt following the UK Government’s decision to oppose a legislative 'red line' in the Agriculture Bill that would have prevented the importation of low quality food in future trade deals.

“The significant impacts such a cut in funding will have on Welsh farms, agricultural businesses and rural communities are clear, and these will come at a time when the industry is already anticipating major problems due to non-tariff barriers, unfair competition from sub-standard imports and the possibility of massive EU tariff barriers in the event of a 'no-deal Brexit'.

“Farmers, businesses and rural constituents were promised an ‘oven-ready deal’. While the FUW was sceptical about such promises, many accepted them in good faith. What has transpired can only be described as a Brexit betrayal that will have far-reaching consequences for family farms, rural businesses and communities.”