Craig Williams, Welsh Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire, has criticised the Welsh Labour Government for attacking and “undermining farming, the countryside and rural life in Wales”.
The Welsh Government have recently published a draft budget for the 2024-25 financial year, which will impose cuts of 13% to the rural affairs portfolio. This is coupled with Welsh Government commissioned economic data for its new Sustainable Farming Scheme, which has forecast a huge reduction in Welsh livestock numbers and employment on Welsh farms.
Commenting, Craig Williams MP said:
“Last Friday I attended a packed public meeting in Llangedwyn to discuss the future of rural Wales. There was palpable anger and a clearly growing momentum to tackle the attacks by Cardiff Bay and the Welsh Labour Government on our way of life, and specifically our farming sector.
“During the meeting, the Countryside Alliance and British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) set out their worries and campaigns, alongside some of our very own Montgomeryshire farmers and hospitality businesses. There was a wide-ranging discussion, but the main take away was deep frustration and the intent to fight back.
“Alongside Russell George MS, we will continue to challenge these attacks on farming that come from the devolved Welsh Labour Government. We are determined to turn the heat up and stop any further undermining of farming, the countryside and rural life in Wales.
“There are a couple of key issues to flush out: Firstly, we have seen the recent Welsh Government draft budget that would impose budget cuts of around 13% to the rural affairs portfolio - the largest of any of the departments. This looks at the financial year of 2024-25, during which time the Sustainable Farming Scheme would come into force. This scheme is still under consultation, yet the Welsh Government have already commissioned economic analysis and modelling for its future impacts. These forecasts predict the following:
1. A 122,200 reduction in Welsh livestock units, which in effect is a 10.8% reduction in Welsh livestock numbers.
2. An 11% cut in labour on Welsh farms; the equivalent of losing 5,500 jobs based on current employment levels on Welsh farms.
“To top this off, the budget for the Habitat Wales Scheme – which contracts commenced for on 1st January 2024 – has still not been formally announced.
“It is clear that the agricultural sector in Wales is hugely undervalued and underappreciated by the Welsh Labour Government. It is no friend of this industry, and we must fight. It is also worth noting, as we pointed out at the meeting, that Welsh Labour have no overall majority in the Senedd. We call upon Plaid Cymru to cancel their deal with Welsh Labour, oppose these changes and, alongside the Welsh Conservative group, vote against this budget and other upcoming votes so we can protect our Welsh countryside.
“No farmers, no food. It is as simple as that. This sector is intrinsically intertwined with our Welsh culture, language, and economy. It’s time to save Welsh agriculture and our countryside.
