In a stark warning, Shadow Farming Minister Robbie Moore has sounded the alarm, claiming that British farmers are next in line for the Labour government’s budget cuts.
Following what he calls the “first assault” on pensioners, Moore, the Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, warns that the farming sector could soon face a drastic financial squeeze under Labour’s autumn budget.
Moore’s concerns stem from what he sees as a lack of rural understanding in government, particularly with the appointment of DEFRA Secretary Steve Reed, MP for a highly urban constituency. “We’ve already seen the impact of having someone at the helm who doesn’t understand the countryside,” Moore stated. “After the wettest 18 months on record, farmers across the UK are desperate for help, yet this government has remained silent.”
The farming sector, battered by crop losses and severe field damage due to heavy rains, faces a second year of uncertainty without support. Thousands of farms are on the brink, Moore says, with many farmers already fearing they may have no viable crop for the second year in a row.
Despite these urgent needs, Moore claims the government has stalled on vital support. “The £50 million Farm Recovery Fund remains undelivered, and only a fraction of the £75 million earmarked for drainage has actually reached the farms most affected by this year’s relentless weather,” he noted. Additionally, £220 million set aside for farm innovation and productivity grants remains uncommitted, leaving farmers without access to crucial financial lifelines.
Worse still, Moore warns, are the whispers of a devastating £100 million cut to the farming budget in the upcoming budget announcement. “For an industry that provides the backbone of our food security, such a cut is unthinkable,” Moore said, adding that some experts fear the actual figure could be even higher.
In sharp contrast, Moore highlighted the Conservative government’s approach, noting its dedication to food security and rural support. “Under our government, unspent funds stayed within the farming budget, meaning crucial programmes didn’t face financial gaps,” Moore explained. He pointed to initiatives like the “Farm to Fork Summit,” hosted at Downing Street, and the establishment of the UK’s food security index as examples of proactive, hands-on engagement with the farming community.
However, under Reed’s leadership, Moore fears DEFRA’s budget underspends could simply be absorbed back into Treasury coffers. “It’s not just about the money—it’s about showing British farmers that they’re valued, that they have a voice in government,” he said, expressing concern over Reed’s capacity to secure funding and resources for rural Britain.
“Farmers are a hardy bunch—they’ll knuckle down when times are tough,” Moore concluded. “But they won’t stand idly by if they feel abandoned. My message to the DEFRA Secretary is simple: pick up the phone, speak to the Chancellor, and back British farming before it’s too late.”
With thousands of farms already facing ruin, the pressure on Reed to protect the farming budget has never been higher. Whether Labour’s autumn budget delivers the support farmers need—or leaves them out in the cold—remains to be seen.
Read Shadow Farming Minister Robbie Moore’s full article here
