This government is jeopardising local food production

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Good morning John,

It is just after 8am on Saturday morning, and while many people may be enjoying a well-deserved lie-in after a busy week, over 25,000 farms across Northern Ireland have been hard at work for a few hours already.

Farming is often described as being ‘in the blood’ in this part of the world, and that sentiment rings true. Husbands and wives, sons and daughters, work side by side to provide us all with the traceable, safe, and nutritious local produce that we enjoy every day.

These family farms, handed down from generation to generation, are not only intrinsic to our rural way of life but are also vital to our local economy. However, this proud tradition is now under severe threat. The Labour Government’s decision to abolish Agricultural Property Relief on inheritance tax risks dismantling this model of family farming.

Upon the death of a farmer, the inheritance tax bill faced by their family will be unmanageable for many. The result will be the forced sale of farmland and the exodus of people from an industry that has sustained their families for generations. For our economy and rural communities, this spells disaster.

The DUP strongly opposes this short-sighted and callous decision by the Chancellor. Labour’s socialist ideology must not be allowed to destroy an industry and a way of life that is woven into the very fabric of Northern Ireland. Without farmers, there is no locally produced food. Without local food, what sort of future do we leave ourselves open to in an increasingly unstable world?

If Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and its impact on global food prices have taught us anything, it is the critical importance of strengthening, not undermining, our food security.

You may not be a farmer, but if you value local produce then I urge you to support the Ulster Farmers’ Union rally on Monday evening at the Eikon Centre, Balmoral Park.

A strong turnout will send a clear message to the government, reflecting not only the concerns of farmers but also the wider society they serve. My colleagues Emma Little-Pengelly MLA and Carla Lockhart MP will both support the event as part of a cross-party, united political voice on this issue. Carla is also co-ordinating a joint letter from Northern Ireland’s Westminster representatives to the Chancellor.

In addition, on Tuesday, I will stand with farmers from across the UK in a mass demonstration opposite the gates of Downing Street.

This issue is deeply personal to farmers and their families, but it affects us all, as it will profoundly impact food production, as well as the quality and price of what we consume. This is why, in the coming week, it is essential that our voices are heard loud and clear.

Wishing you a great weekend,

Gavin Robinson MP
DUP Leader
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