Carmichael: “Agriculture Bill too focused on politics, not focused enough on farmers”

Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, has criticised the Agriculture Bill, which has its second reading in the House of Commons later today. Mr. Carmichael called on the bill to deliver long-term certainty and long-term funding for farmers and crofters across Scotland.

Commenting on the Bill, Mr. Carmichael said: “The Agriculture Bill sets out some of the processes which will be used to make the decision in the future, but contains very little new information. Farmers will be disappointed that just 170 days until Brexit, there is still no detail on what happens next.

“Farmers need long-term answers, and long-term funding guarantees in order to plan for the future. This Bill answers none of the questions which remain around access to markets and standards. It is simply not good enough.”