DEFRA Secretary Michael Gove has called for a move away from farming “subsidies for inefficiency” in a speech on his vision the future of our farming industry today.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat DEFRA spokesperson Tim Farron said: 

“For Gove to imply that farm payments are a reward for inefficiency is an insult to British farmers. It shows he has no understanding of the reality of farming in this country.

“British farmers are some of the most efficient and dynamic in the world. Farm payments compensate for the fact that the market is broken, because supermarkets and processors dominate the industry and exploit farmers.

“The overwhelming majority of livestock and dairy farmers would be in the red if it wasn’t for direct farm payments.

“Gove’s announcement also does nothing to address the impending tariff catastrophe facing farmers once we leave the single market.”

NOTES:

Gove’s comments can be found here