The UK's Premier Agricultural Machinery and Technology Show

20–21 January 2027, NEC, Birmingham

Event Details

EXCLUSIVE - Victoria Atkins: "The relationship between this Government and the countryside is broken"

Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Akins said Defra quangos and regulators need to either be scrapped or streamlined because at present, they do not serve the best interests of farmers, the countryside and the country as a whole

clock • 3 min read
Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle Victoria Atkins said: "Schemes thought up by civil servants take land out of productive use, reducing food security without actually delivering environmental improvements. Cutting red tape and reducing the power of unaccountable regulators is the first step towards restoring trust, boosting food security, and helping British farmers thrive."
Image:

Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle Victoria Atkins said: "Schemes thought up by civil servants take land out of productive use, reducing food security without actually delivering environmental improvements. Cutting red tape and reducing the power of unaccountable regulators is the first step towards restoring trust, boosting food security, and helping British farmers thrive."

At every opportunity, the Government have made life harder for farmers, with the family farm tax fiasco, the overnight withdrawal of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and now the mission creep of...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

Login

New to Farmers Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358
Register for free Join Now

 

More on Politics

Conservatives vow to restructure Defra department
Politics

Conservatives vow to restructure Defra department

Agriculture will be at 'heart of government' once Tories regain power, says Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins

Mia Willemsen
Mia Willemsen
clock 05 October 2026 • 3 min read
Tories plan to scrap Environment Agency and Natural England in 'bonfire of red tape'
Politics

Tories plan to scrap Environment Agency and Natural England in 'bonfire of red tape'

Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffiths tells the Conservative Party Conference the party will embark on the 'most ambitious deregulation project in a generation'

Jane Thynne
Jane Thynne
clock 05 October 2026 • 2 min read
Green Party calls for fairer farmgate pricing as it unveils new food policy
Politics

Green Party calls for fairer farmgate pricing as it unveils new food policy

Conference members back plans to address farming and food costs

Jane Thynne
Jane Thynne
clock 03 October 2026 • 3 min read