This is a subscriber-only article
The Conservative Party has pledged to maintain the budget for farmers at its current level for every year of the next Parliament, if it wins a majority in the upcoming general election.
“I’m delighted that we can announce that a majority Conservative government will safeguard farm payments for the lifetime of the next Westminster parliament,” Michael Gove said on Wednesday.
“That is a five-year guarantee and it means farmers and land managers will receive the same level of support in cash terms,” the senior Tory MP said.
With the UK due to leave the EU at the end of January, farm support payments from 2020 onwards will come from the British Treasury rather than the CAP and the total level of funding will be a decision for the next UK government.
The UK government previously committed to maintaining funding at current levels until the end of parliament, which was originally expected in 2022.
However, with parliament dissolved ahead of the upcoming general election, that commitment has expired.
SHARING OPTIONS: