We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Scottish independence better for farmers - Lochhead
THE Scottish Government made a renewed call for independence this week, claiming farmers would be benefit if ties to Westminster were cut.
In a policy paper on independence, the Scottish Government said it was being held back in EU negotiations on issues such as GM crops and CAP reform.
At present all negotiation in Europe are carried out by the UK Government on behalf of the devolved nations, but Scottish Ministers claim their policies are not being put forward.
The paper highlights the UK’s support for GM crops and its failure to set up a supermarket ombudsman as key areas where an independent Scotland would implement different policies.
It also said Scotland’s requests to take advantage of EU rules allowing them to reduce fuel duty in rural areas had also been rejected by colleagues in Westminster.
The report said: “Independence would enable Scotland to have its own voice in Europe and argue robustly in favour of its own farming, fishing and environmental interests without its views being diluted.”
The paper was published in the same week Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead made an impassioned call for independence at the Scottish Nationalist Party’s annual conference in Inverness.
Mr Lochhead claimed Scottish Ministers were being ‘frozen out’ of negotiation at an EU level.
He said: “To safeguard rural Scotland’s future, we need our own voice in Brussels and a Minister who stands up for our rural communities – not plots against them.”
He pointed to the recent report into Defra’s CAP vision which showed the negative impact on the industry if plans to remove direct payments to farmers were given the go-ahead.
Mr Lochhead said: “If implemented, the UK vision would be a disaster for Scottish agriculture.
“Labour’s vision ignores Scotland’s distinct characteristics - our land, climate and population. We can’t let London Labour make their vision a reality.”
While well received by his own party, Mr Lochhead’s comments drew criticism from the Liberal Democrat rural affairs spokesman, Liam McArthur, who accused Mr Lochhead of ‘opening up dividing lines’ with UK Ministers.
He said: “The politics of grudge and greivance, where it’s always someone else’s fault, won’t wash, particularly when jobs and livelihoods are at stake.”
Readers' comments (2)
Anonymous | 21 October 2009 8:07 pm
to break up the most successful partnership in history - the UK , is the snp's answer to every problem . create hatred and division that's what nationalists do.
mr lockhead should explain why his snp conference were discussing banning non scots from owning land in scotland , the kind of policy adolf hitler would be proud of
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Miranda | 12 November 2009 3:23 pm
So anonymous is quite happy for rich EU farmers to buy up farmland in England, eh ? Many nations have restrictions on foreigners owning land. A Scot, by the SNP definition, is someone who resides in Scotland. After Independence that would simply be a Scottish citizen. There is no blood test !
The "most successful partnership in history" has been about as successful to Scotland as England's partnership with Ireland was up until their independence. And although Ireland might be in financial turmoil just now I have not heard one suggestion that they want to rejoin the UK ! In any event, a politically independant Scotland with the same monarch as England has already been done before; between 1604 and 1707. So what is the problem ? Everyone wants to sing "Bonnie Scotland" when the pub shuts or at Hogmanay but the truth is, unlike the Irish, the vast majority of Scots live up to their caricature and are afraid that independence might hurt their own pocket. Shame on you ! However, I do believe the tide may be turning now that the SNP have shown themselves to be a credible party in power. They are not racist. That is a terrible slur. Is a Euro-sceptic a racist ? Come on !
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