Lib Dems Respond to Welsh Affairs Committee Report on Farming - Axe the Family Farms Tax

Commenting on the report, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick said:

“It is crystal clear that the UK Government must urgently rethink its approach to the family farms tax.

“There are practical, fair alternatives on the table that would close loopholes exploited by large multinationals, without inflicting the devastating harm this policy would cause to our rural economy and communities.

“The Government should listen to reason, take stock, and go back to the drawing board.”

Commenting on the Barnettisation of the agricultural budget and the revelations that the Welsh Government had in fact asked the UK Government to remove the ringfencing, despite previously ‘expressing concern’ over the proposals, David Chadwick said:

“The Welsh Government appears to have taken contradictory positions, publicly raising concerns about the UK Government’s changes to agricultural funding while privately asking for the ringfence on that same funding to be removed. 

"This revelation exposes yet another instance of fundamental dishonesty from the Welsh Labour Government in its dealings with the UK Government. Ministers cannot say one thing in public and do the opposite behind closed doors. Rural Wales deserves honesty and consistency, not political games.  

“The First Minister must now give a cast-iron guarantee that she will not use the removal of this ringfence as an excuse to cut the agricultural budget, either this year or in future years.”

ENDS