Scots farmers launch pro-independence group
A group of Scottish farmers will launch a pro-independence farming group at the Borders Union Show, near Kelso, today (Saturday 27 July).
As part of the countrywide Yes Scotland independence campaign, a group of leading figures in agriculture set up an initial steering group to launch the “Farming for Yes” campaign at the show.
Farmers Weekly columnist Neale McQuistin is among the group, which also includes Roxburthshire farmer Carol Douglas, former NFU chairman for the north-east region Cameron Ewen and Perthshire farmer Jim Fairlie.
“I believe farmers in Scotland are far more valued by a Scottish government and that farming could fair even better if we were entirely left to decide our own future and had our own place at the table in Europe,” said Mr McQuistin.
“It doesn’t seem right that our leaders should be left outside the negotiating room with DEFRA in there negotiating on our behalf for our livelihoods.”
Jim Fairlie said devolution had given Scottish farmers a much better voice than ever before, and independence would bring much more.
“The potential that will be unleashed by an agricultural community that is recognised and respected for its role in Scotland will be vast,” he said. “Our enterprise, industriousness imagination and drive will deliver huge benefits to our industry and Scottish society as a whole. We just need to have the belief in our own ability.”
The Farming for Yes campaign manifesto accuses the UK government of failing to defend agricultural spending levels by campaigning for a reduction in the Common Agricultural Policy budget. It also attacks the UK government’s intention to phase out Pillar 1 (direct support) in the long term.
The group claims if Scotland was an independent country it would be eligible for more than €1bn additional Pillar 1 support up until 2020, and had it been independent during CAP negotiations, it would have been able to negotiate a much better budget deal.
The pro-independence campaign launch follows a pro-union launch at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh last month. Led by Lib Dem MEP George Lyon and backed by former Chancellor and Labour MP Alistair Darling, the Rural Better Together campaign claims Scotland is better off as part of the United Kingdom.