Labour’s farming policy has come under heavy criticism from industry expert Tom Allen-Stevens, who has branded Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s claim of providing the “biggest budget for food production and nature recovery in UK history” as misleading.
Far from being a game-changer for British agriculture, Allen-Stevens argues the £5 billion allocated over two years represents the smallest commitment to farming in real terms and exposes deep flaws in Labour’s approach.
Shortest Funding Commitment in History
Allen-Stevens, a journalist, writer, and arable farmer from Oxfordshire, highlighted in a series of posts that Labour’s two-year funding plan is the shortest commitment any government has ever made to agriculture. Historically, funding spanned at least the length of a parliamentary term, while the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) provided a longer-term framework.
“No farm business can base their planning on just two years,” Allen-Stevens wrote. “If you’re borrowing money, no bank will accept a cashflow on such a short term for a business that has no idea of its income post-2026.”
Farmer Trust at an All-Time Low
Trust in Labour’s ability to deliver for farmers has also taken a hit, with Allen-Stevens pointing to the £300 million underspend from the previous government as evidence of systemic failure. “Good luck getting farmers to commit to £5bn of Environmental Land Management (ELMs) contracts when the last government struggled to get a fraction of that amount committed,” he said. The removal of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) means underspending is likely to persist, further compounding the uncertainty.
Adding to the financial strain, the government has delayed payments under the Countryside Stewardship scheme. “How on earth can you say you’re supporting farmers and then wreck our cash flows by delaying payments?” he asked.
Frozen Growth Measures
Perhaps the most concerning element, Allen-Stevens said, is the freezing of key initiatives designed to deliver growth in the farming sector. These include:
- Farming Innovation Programme
- Farm Equipment Technology Fund
- Capital Grant Funding
- ADOPT (Agricultural Development and Operational Practical Trials) – a £40 million fund for farmer-led R&D projects.
“These are the only measures designed to deliver growth, and they’ve been frozen,” he said.
Missed Opportunities and Misunderstanding
Allen-Stevens also criticised Labour for ignoring advice on measures that could curb land speculation by non-farmers. Instead of targeting family-run farms with hefty inheritance taxes, Labour could have implemented a threshold of £20 million, clawing back funds if the land is sold and taxing at 40%, he suggested. Such a move would raise the same revenue without crippling farming families.
The farming expert didn’t hold back when criticising Labour MPs, accusing many of misunderstanding or misrepresenting the issues. He also lamented the time wasted by non-Conservative MPs on attacking the record of the previous government, which he described as “totally irrelevant to the motion.”
Mental Health Crisis Ignored
Allen-Stevens raised alarm over the mental health impact of the policy, noting that vulnerable individuals in rural communities are grappling with despair. “No one raised the issue that there are vulnerable people in our rural communities who are considering taking their own lives as a direct result of this tax,” he said, urging Parliament to address the human cost of its decisions.
A Black Hole of Debate
In a final impassioned plea, Allen-Stevens expressed frustration with Labour’s repeated reference to the so-called £22 billion “black hole” in public finances. “IF ONE MORE MP OR MINISTER MENTIONS THE F@@CKING 22BN BLACK HOLE ONE MORE TIME, I WILL SCREAM!” he concluded.
The Verdict
Tom Allen-Stevens’s detailed critique underscores widespread concern within the agricultural sector over Labour’s handling of farming policy. His remarks reveal a government that appears out of touch with rural communities, leaving farmers facing uncertainty, financial strain, and a crisis of trust.
The question remains: will Labour listen, or will their approach to agriculture become another example of policy mismanagement that alienates key industries?
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