The SNP’s rural economy minister presented “no vision” for Scottish farmers during a 50-minute keynote speech that failed to address how farm payments will work after Brexit.
A crowd of agriculture figures attended the NFU Scotland AGM’s second day in Glasgow with the expectation they would hear the SNP Government’s ideas for Scotland’s successor to the Common Agricultural Policy.
But the Scottish Conservative shadow rural economy secretary branded the speech “lacking in ideas at a time the farming industry needs leadership”.
Peter Chapman MSP said attendees sat in “deafening silence” as Fergus Ewing failed to address concer
“This was not the reassurance that these people hoped for, or I expected.
“This was a showpiece opportunity but all it’s done was disappoint.
“It was just a checklist of all the things the SNP think they have managed to do in the past year.
“DEFRA Secretary Michael Gove told me that farm payments are absolutely in the hands of the Scottish Government, and the UK Government has guaranteed the same level of farm subsidy as CAP did, until 2024.
“Nothing is stopping Fergus Ewing from taking the initiative and putting forward his ideas for how the system will work after.
“It was just the same old blame game – the SNP want Brexit to fail so they can blame Westminster and continue their obsession with a second independence referendum.”