SNP slams Government rural policies

22 September 1998

SNP slams Government rural policies

THE predicament of Scottish farmers needs to be addressed immediately, according to John Swinney MP, the Scottish National Partys agricultural spokesman.

He attacked the Government for leaving agriculture to restructure itself. He told the Perth mart: “If it does nothing, this Government will carry a colossal responsibility for damaging the rural economy.”

Mr Swinney also attacked the Governments management of the economy and its maintenance of high interest rates. He said: “The high Pound is having an immediate and debilitating effect. And if the UK stays out of the single European currency, Sterling will be left as a hedging currency which will make it very difficult to sustain an export trade.”

Mr Swinney was told that lamb prices at the mart were down by a third in just 12 months, while suckled calf prices are running at £100 less.

• The Herald 22/09/98 page 26