Sussex Farmers Condemn Autumn Budget as Missed Opportunity
Sussex farming leaders have criticised the Autumn Budget for failing to provide adequate support to family farms facing financial pressures.
'Abandoned' by government
Sussex family farms have condemned the Autumn Budget as a missed opportunity for rural support. Leaders from the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and local farming sector said the Chancellor's plans offer insufficient help to boost business confidence or support food production across the region.
Tom Bradshaw, NFU president, said: "This was an opportunity for government to act on the warm words it made over the summer. It has failed to act and has left farmers and growers feeling abandoned."
Limited relief announced
Whilst the government extended red diesel relief, Mr Bradshaw noted this offers only limited assistance given that fuel prices are already around 65 per cent higher than a year ago. The government also announced removal of tariffs on certain foods and fertilisers, but the NFU argued this would have little impact since much of the UK's fertiliser imports are already tariff-free.
East Sussex perspective
Martin Hole, NFU East Sussex chair, pointed to the severe challenges facing local farmers. He said: "One of the worst droughts on record and sky-high fuel and fertiliser bills due to the Middle East conflict are leaving many farmers and growers on the brink."
Mr Hole called for several measures that could have eased the crisis, including increasing the Annual Investment Allowance to at least £5 million (including structures and buildings), scrapping the family farm tax and introducing government-backed interest-free Keep Britain Growing Loans. He added: "Increasing the Annual Investment Allowance to at least £5m, including structures and buildings, scrapping the family farm tax and introducing government-backed interest free Keep Britain Growing Loans, to address farming's immediate cashflow crisis, would have gone some way to restoring much-needed confidence."
Continued lobbying
Mr Hole noted that NFU President Tom Bradshaw had raised these issues directly with the Prime Minister, both during summer visits to farms and recently in Westminster. The NFU has said it will continue pressing for urgent action to enable Sussex and British farmers to sustain their food production.
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