Around 40 members of the NFUS gathered at Womblehill Farm, the home of north east regional chair Kevin Gilbert, last week to voice concerns regarding the autumn budget.
The event saw a combination of frustration, anger and determination displayed, particularly surrounding the absence of Labour representation, who were heavily criticised for not engaging with the farming community.
The budget proposals, which include significant tax changes and cuts to agricultural property relief (APR), have sparked widespread concern among farmers.
The meeting highlighted not just the financial and practical issues arising from the new policies but also the growing sense that the government is failing to grasp the severity of the impact on rural communities.
Labour's absence and lack of engagement
The meeting was notably marked by the lack of representation from Labour. Labour MSP Michael Mara had offered to hold a Zoom meeting to discuss the proposed changes, a gesture which was met with scorn by farmers present.
Many present expressed that the offer showed a lack of understanding of the gravity of the situation facing farmers. Mercedes Villalba did not respond to the invitation to attend, which further enraged members who felt that the architects of these potential budget cuts were avoiding accountability.
The lack of direct engagement with the farming community has fuelled a perception that the party is out of touch with the realities of rural life and agriculture in Scotland.
Bowie criticises "damaging" budget and calls for cross-party action
Conservative MP Andrew Bowie delivered a scathing opening critique of the UK Government’s budget, calling it “damaging” and questioning their justifications. He specifically singled out the proposed reforms, which he believes will hurt family farms, undermine food security, and disrupt investment in the sector.
Mr Bowie also noted that Labour’s lack of representation north of Stirling reflects the party’s failure to understand the unique needs of rural and island Scotland. He expressed frustration at the government’s “complete ignorance” to food security, warning that their policies risk escalating the challenges faced by the farming industry.
In his address, Mr Bowie called out both the Defra secretary, Steve Reed, and PM Keir Starmer, accusing them of “blatantly lying” about the proposed cuts. He claimed that Defra had not been given advanced notice of the financial reductions and that the government had underestimated the level of backlash from the farming community.
“There is no justification for these reforms. We encourage the farming community to stand together, and I call on all MPs, including Labour representatives from rural constituencies, to collaborate across party lines to push back against these harmful proposals,” Bowie urged.
Logan focuses on food security and investment uncertainty
Seamus Logan, SNP MP, emphasised that the issue was not about party politics, but about the major question of food security.
“This is about ensuring that the UK can feed itself,” Mr Logan stated.
He echoed the concerns of farmers at the meeting, who expressed how the proposed changes were already leading to a pause in investment in their farms. Mr Logan stressed that many farmers are unable to plan for the future due to the uncertainty created by the budget proposals.
“We heard from farmers who have put their investment plans on hold purely because of these budget changes,” Mr Logan stated after the meeting. “This is causing a great deal of insecurity and uncertainty. We need to act now to prevent further damage to the farming sector, and I will continue to push for a rethink on these proposals.”
Cross calls for mitigation and support for “genuine farmers”
Harriet Cross branded herself a long-time advocate of APR, and urged the government to ensure that genuine farmers don’t suffer because of the changes.
“They thought they could push these changes through quietly, but it’s clear that the farming community will not stand for it,” she said. “There needs to be mitigation to ensure that small, family-run farms are not disproportionately affected by these reforms.”
Cross also urged farmers not to panic and to carefully consider how the proposed changes will impact them personally before acting.
She echoed the sentiment that the government must take into account the realities of farming and ensure that these reforms don’t drive family farms out of business.
Farmers' voices: "Asset rich, cash poor"
Farmers who attended the meeting shared powerful personal testimonies about how the proposed changes would impact their lives.
One farmer stated that most farmers he knows are “asset rich, but cash poor,” and warned that the new reforms would create an “endless cycle of borrowing” for many family farms.
“They’ve closed what they saw as a loophole, but they never considered the real impact on the average farmer,” the farmer said, referring to the changes to APR. “It’s always been left untouched in previous budgets, even when finances were tight. Why now?”
MORE NEWS | COP29: Agriculture key to climate action in Baku
MORE NEWS | Countryside campaigners urge use of new tool against IHT changes
Another farmer reflected on the long-term consequences for family-run farms. “We spend a lifetime training the next generation to take over, but these changes could make all that work for nothing,” she said. “The government needs to reconsider and not waste this valuable resource.”
One participant added that the issue goes beyond agriculture, stressing that “every single person in the UK has a stake in agriculture,” since the nation depends on food production for survival.
Another farmer pointed out the dangers of relying on imported food, especially given the current unpredictable global landscape.
“The idea that we can just import food if British farms fail is misguided. We need to support our agricultural sector now, because there’s no guarantee that we’ll always be able to get food from abroad,” he warned, citing issues faced by his farming relations in Canada, Australia, and the USA.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here