Council Unites Behind Lib Dem Motion For Better Deal for Farmers

Bromsgrove District Council has unanimously backed a Liberal Democrat motion calling on the Government to do more to support farmers after a botched rollout of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

Last month, the Government’s SFI allocated its £253m budget within less than six hours of applications opening. This led to the scheme’s rollout being described as “worse than the scramble for Oasis tickets”.

Councillor Sam Evans called on the Council to stand up for local farmers and lobby the Government for a better deal, after farmers have been facing a wave of challenges in recent years from inheritance tax changes, extreme weather and a botched Brexit which resulted in the loss of EU subsidies for UK farmers.

The motion received unanimous support, with councillors from across the political divide backing the Lib Dem motion, sending a united message to the Government that the concerns of farmers must be heard.

Councillor Sam Evans said: “Farmers play an essential part of life in Bromsgrove and have been let down over years. I’m delighted that councillors from the Conservatives, Labour and independent groups came together and unanimously backed this Liberal Democrat motion.

Fellow Lib Dem Councillor David Nicholl added: “This Council will now be sending a clear message to the Government that we want them to listen and give Bromsgrove’s farmers a better deal.”