Alistair Carmichael backs NFUS manifesto for farmers and food producers
Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael, has today backed the National Farmers’ Union Scotland general election manifesto, to ensure that farmers and food producers continue to thrive in the isles.
The NFUS manifesto, launched in April, makes a range of asks of the next UK government, including the setting of multi-annual, ringfenced budgets for agriculture, support for local farmers in future trade agreements, and action to boost margins for food producers through the Groceries Code Adjudicator. Mr Carmichael launched legislation to strengthen the powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator earlier this year, before Parliament was dissolved for the general election.
Mr Carmichael said:
“I have been proud to work closely with the farmers’ union throughout my time in Parliament – and I am glad to back the NFUS manifesto for the next UK government today. As the son of hill farmers on Islay – and now as a partner in my family’s farm – I know just how vital agriculture is to our island communities.
“In recent years the Covid pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine have shown us that we cannot take food security for granted. If ever there were a case for “public money for public goods” then it has got to be in protecting local food supply, such as our local dairies. We have to take the right steps to ensure that our own food producers remain viable, across the country and specifically in the isles.
“While many areas of agriculture are devolved to the Scottish Parliament, there is an important positive role the UK government can and must play by setting multi-year budgets, so that farmers can plan with confidence. If a farmer can plan his crops a few years in advance then it should not be beyond the wit of a Treasury official to do the same.
“I am also particularly keen to make further progress on the goal of a strengthened Groceries Code Adjudicator, as advocated by the NFUS. I introduced legislation earlier this year to beef up the regulator’s remit and protect farmgate prices for our food producers, but the government offered little more than warm words about support for farmers. Re-introducing that Bill will be high on my agenda if islanders back me again on the 4th of July.”