Legislation

With changing support structures for farmers and concerns over food standards in post-Brexit trade deals presenting unprecedented challenges for Number 10, has the Government delivered on its promises for UK farming?

The coronavirus crisis has exposed the Government’s failure to think about food policy, and it needs to be properly considered now, says Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City, University of London.

When the coronavirus has been brought under control, politicians must take stock and recognise the importance of food security, says Robert Largan, Conservative MP for High Peak.

The scale of the disruption we have seen to the food service sector due to the coronavirus restrictions in the past week is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before, and I know farmers up and down the country who supply the likes of McDonalds and Nando’s will feel concerned about what this might mean, says Head of food and farming Philip Hambling. 

Defra Ministers are ‘in constant discussion’ with industry about delaying the phase out of direct payments, as the Agriculture Bill faces a fresh hold up due to the coronavirus epidemic.

No farm should face the prospect of losing more than a quarter of its direct payment before the new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme is up and running, the CLA has said.

Plaid Cymru has called on the Welsh Government to put on hold its plans to introduce new water regulations until the coronavirus epidemic is under control.

With Brexit negotiations now effectively on hold as result of the coronavirus outbreak, NFU director of EU exit and international trade Nick Von Westenholz has warned the transition period must be extended.

The CLA has claimed the Chancellor’s 350 billion business stimulus will bring farm enterprises ‘much-needed relief’, as the spread of coronavirus takes hold.

Demands for ‘assurances’ on whether the number of seasonal visas on offer will be dramatically increased have intensified, as concerns over coronavirus grow.