Brexit: and the future of farming subsidies: part two

When Andrea Leadsom became Sectretary of State at DEFRA, there was speculation over what would happen to farming subsidies - as she has previously argued against them:
Futures Forum: Brexit: and the future of farming subsidies

But it seems that we'll be sticking with the old system - as currently provided under the EU:
What is the Great Repeal Bill? The Brexit law to end all EU laws (that we don't like) | The Independent

The East Devon Watch blog has picked up on a piece from earlier in the year:

BREXIT MONEY COULD GO TO LANDOWNERS RATHER THAN NHS

4 DEC 2016

Wonder why pro-Remain farmer Neil Parish supported Andrea Leadsom (pro- Brexit, now Minister of Agriculture) for PM?

Brexit money could go to landowners rather than NHS | East Devon Watch

With the full piece here:

LEADING BREXITEERS COULD KEEP MILLIONS IN FARM SUBSIDIES UNDER TORY PLEDGE, INSTEAD OF NHS

MONDAY 1 AUGUST



Prominent Brexit campaigners and big landowners could pocket millions in farm subsidies if Tory minister Andrea Leadsom gets her way, an investigation has found.

The Vote Leave campaign said the gross amount of money we sent to the EU, £350 million a week, could go to the NHS.

But they also quietly made a series of other promises about spending that money, leaving far less for the NHS.

A Greenpeace investigation has found that prominent Brexiter said she would guaranteed the controversial single farm payment to continue at current levels, if she were elected leader.

She clearly didn’t win, but she is now the new environment secretary, and in a position to guarantee millions of pounds in farm subsidies post-Brexit.

This means that supporters and donors of Vote Leave, including Lord Bamford and Sir James Dyson, could get large taxpayer-funded subsidies.

Others currently benefitting from the scheme include farming minister George Eustice and vice-president of Conservatives for Britain, Viscount Ridley. Iain Duncan Smith does not benefit directly but resides on the grounds of Swanbourne Estate, owned by his parents-in-law, who received £134,309 in farm subsidies last year.

The subsidy, which forms part of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), has been heavily criticised in the past for transferring wealth from the general public to rich landowners, including the aristocracy and billionaires from Denmark and Dubai.

The EU subsidies were meant to support family farming across the UK, but the money largely goes to large landowners. Many of them are Tory donors.

Last year £2.3 billion was doled out as part of these payments.

Prominent Brexit campaigners received over £4 million in EU farm subsidies in 2015, Greenpeace found.

That would mean more broken promises on the NHS – what a surprise.

3 comments on “Leading Brexiteers could keep millions in farm subsidies under Tory pledge, instead of NHS”

 bjsalba says:
August 2, 2016 at 8:24 am

I understand that when this was being negotiated in the Council of Europe, most countries wanted to put a CAP on the size of landowner/business which could receive funnding.

Guess which country fought that most strenuously?

 John Brownlie says:
August 2, 2016 at 11:34 am

Perhaps more importantly, Paul Dacre of the Daily Mail will continue to receive over 100,000 a year for his estate…

 Graeme Park says:
August 2, 2016 at 11:42 am

Same noses, different trough


Leading Brexiteers could keep millions in farm subsidies under Tory pledge, instead of NHS | Political Scrapbook
Brexiteers Would Pocket Millions In Farming Subsidies After Leadsom Plan | The Huffington Post

With more here from 29th September:
UK ‘consistently waters down’ reforms of EU farming subsidies | Environment | The Guardian
Scottish landowner tops EU farm subsidy list with £3 million per year - Telegraph

There is still plenty of lobbying going on however, as with this piece from 29th November:
Rural sector facing big questions after decision - The Scotsman
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