Politics

The new Defra Farming Minister, Mark Spencer, has hinted that a rethink on the phase out of badger culling could be on the way.

Rural campaign body CPRE has warned that a return to fracking risks ‘breaking the countryside’ and ‘further hammering’ rural communities already hit hard by the cost of living crisis.

Not all politicians have the ‘gumption’ to take the hard decisions required to meet the Government’s net zero by 2050 target, a National Trust chief has warned.

A new piece of UK Government legislation designed to make it easier to repeal and amend EU law poses a ‘significant risk’ to Scotland’s ability to uphold high safety and food standards, according to Food Standards Scotland.

Not all politicians have the gumption to take the hard decisions required to meet the Governments net zero by 2050 target, a National Trust chief has warned.

The farming industry has been urged to ‘keep the pressure on’ Government to negotiate trade deals which work for UK agriculture, amid concerns about the new Defra Secretary’s stance.

New Farming Minister Mark Spencer has confirmed Defra is considering delinking Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments early as part of its review of agricultural policies.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman could be set to clash with the Prime Minister and Defra colleagues after saying she would clampdown on the UK’s reliance on seasonal workers.

The Welsh Government has unveiled an update to its heavily criticised water regulations, after admitting opposition to the plan had ‘introduced a level of uncertainty’.

The chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, Sir Robert Goodwill, has said he intends to look at the possibility of maintaining an element of direct support for ‘small’ farmers.