Ahead of large-scale farming protests at the Senedd tomorrow, Shadow Minister for North Wales and Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has outlined his support for farmers.

Last week in North Wales there were a number of protests against the Welsh Government’s proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme.

On Friday, campaigning farmer Gareth Wyn Jones, and others, gathered outside the Welsh Conservative conference in Llandudno and appealed for help from the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Conservative MSs and MPs.

Darren went out to give his support to the farmers and listen to their concerns.

Commenting on the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme, he said:

“The way in which the Welsh Government is treating our farmers is appalling and I fully support their peaceful protests.

“Tomorrow they are expected to turn out in force to the Senedd to once again urge Welsh Government Ministers to scrap their crazy and damaging proposals.

“These farmers will not be ignored and will continue making their views known until they are heard, and who can blame them?

“Their jobs and livelihoods are at stake and they justly feel let down and abandoned by Welsh Ministers.

“Tomorrow Welsh Conservatives will be bringing forward a Senedd motion to remove the requirement for each farm to have 10% tree cover and scrap the current Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals, and to re-engage with the farming sector to develop a new scheme that has the support of the farming community.

“North Wales has an abundance of excellent farms and I have had the great pleasure of visiting many of them over the years. It is awful to hear of the impact of these proposals on their viability. As I told the farmers who were outside the Welsh Conservative Conference in Llandudno on Friday, I will continue doing everything I can to help them.”   

It is estimated that the Welsh Government’s proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme will result in an estimated 122,200 reductions in Welsh livestock numbers, with 5,500 jobs on Welsh farms lost, and £199 million loss to the rural economy.

ENDS

Photo Credit: Rob Formstone.