Fuming Scots farmers to rally outside Holyrood after Jeremy Clarkson Westminster protest
Fuming Scots farmers will rally outside Holyrood next week accusing both the Scottish and UK governments of failing them. Organisers NFU Scotland say the event will be a show of strength from all “who want a thriving rural economy” ahead of the Scottish Budget early next month.
It comes after thousands of farmers including Jeremy Clarkson this week descended on Westminster to protest the Labour government’s changes to Inheritance Tax which they claim will hammer family farms. Scotland’s farming union also hit out at Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ UK Budget for ending ring-fenced agriculture funding north of the border.
It’s urging SNP ministers - now solely responsible for cash sent to farmers - not to betray the sector at a “monumental time for Scottish agriculture”. The protest outside the Scottish Parliament will take place on November 28 - ahead of Finance Secretary Shona Robison’s December 4 - and all farmers and crofters are urged to attend.
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NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy said: “The huge level of uncertainty felt by farmers and crofters threatens food production, family farming and crofting businesses and the environment. In the recent budget, the UK Government effectively washed its hands of a funding ring-fenced multi-annual safety net that has been in place for over 50 years when it passed the budget in a lump sum to the Scottish Government.”
He said the rally would “send a clear message” to MSPs and ministers about the importance of maintaining ring-fenced cash for farmers. Kennedy added: "Our rally will highlight all that farmers and crofters deliver, including high-quality food production, climate and nature restoration, and thriving rural communities.
“The Scottish Government and Parliament now have a real opportunity to demonstrate that they do understand and will fully support a thriving Scottish agriculture sector.”
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