That this House recognises with deep concern the Chancellor’s 2025 Spending Review decision to cut the DEFRA budget in real terms by 2.3% annually, with a real terms cut to the farming budget of around £100 million; understands budget cuts will have potentially devastating consequences for the environment, the rural economy, farming communities and food security whilst creating uncertainty for the funding of regulatory bodies such as Natural England and the Environment Agency; notes that this cut comes at a time of great uncertainty for farming businesses after the botched transition, bungled trade deals and budget underspend overseen by the Conservatives in government; further notes the risks to farming businesses caused by the Government's changes to inheritance tax, the accelerated phase out of the basic payments scheme and the sudden closure of sustainable farming incentive applications; calls on the Government to confirm what impact DEFRA budget cuts will have on the rural economy, food security and climate and nature goals; further calls on the Government to clarify which schemes will be funded by the £400 million allocated for nature and the £300 million unallocated under the farming budget; and urges the Government to properly fund profitable, sustainable and nature-friendly farming with an extra £1 billion a year for Environmental Land Management Schemes to make sure our farmers can continue to feed the nation and protect and enhance our natural environment.
Signatories (33)
- Tim Farron Sponsor
- Helen Morgan
- Andrew George
- Ian Roome
- Wendy Chamberlain
- Wera Hobhouse
- Cameron Thomas
- Alex Brewer
- Dr Al Pinkerton
- Jess Brown-Fuller
- Adam Dance
- Mr Joshua Reynolds
- Calum Miller
- Clive Jones
- Mr Will Forster
- Dr Ellie Chowns
- Steff Aquarone
- Dr Roz Savage
- Jim Shannon
- Sarah Dyke
- Freddie van Mierlo
- Tom Gordon
- Brian Mathew
- James MacCleary
- Mr Angus MacDonald
- Ben Maguire
- Mr Lee Dillon
- David Chadwick
- Christine Jardine
- Gideon Amos
- Helen Maguire
- Siân Berry
- Richard Foord