Framing SFI closure as a triumph added 'insult to injury', says Efra chair

The Government has pulled the rug out from under farmers across England, according to Alastair Carmichael

clock • 4 min read
Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael said: "The decision to close SFI on Tuesday (March 11) without any notice has provoked predictable and justifiable fury, but doing it with a press release that sought to present it as some sort of triumph added insult to injury. It was almost like a return to the glory days of the Soviet Union, when the Politburo would boast about their advances in meeting their targets in the five-year plan for tractor production."
Image:

Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael said: "The decision to close SFI on Tuesday (March 11) without any notice has provoked predictable and justifiable fury, but doing it with a press release that sought to present it as some sort of triumph added insult to injury. It was almost like a return to the glory days of the Soviet Union, when the Politburo would boast about their advances in meeting their targets in the five-year plan for tractor production."

Efra Committee Chair Alastair Carmichael has criticised the tone of language used by Defra to announce its closure of Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) applications for farmers seeking to benefit nature,...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

Login

New to Farmers Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358

 

New Kioti ZXC54

New Kioti ZXC54

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

New Kioti ZXD61

New Kioti ZXD61

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

New Kioti CS2520H sub compact rops tractor

New Kioti CS2520H sub compact rops tractor

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

More on Politics

Gov bans personal meat imports to UK amid foot-and-mouth rise in Europe

Gov bans personal meat imports to UK amid foot-and-mouth rise in Europe

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said new restrictions could protect British farmers from the threat posed by foot-and-mouth disease in mainland Europe

clock 14 April 2025 • 4 min read
 Scottish Government must be 'more proactive' in co-designing future agricultural support

Scottish Government must be 'more proactive' in co-designing future agricultural support

Chair of Food and Agriculture Stakeholder Taskforce (FAST), Neil Wilson said the funding needs to be seen to be an investment into the industry and rural economy

Rachael Brown
clock 14 April 2025 • 3 min read
Experts not ruling out further changes to Inheritance Tax

Experts not ruling out further changes to Inheritance Tax

Extending potentially exempt transfers (PETs) to a longer period than the current seven-year gifting rule, and a possible wealth or land tax cannot be completely ruled out

Rachael Brown
clock 14 April 2025 • 4 min read