Tory Hypocrisy on Farming as UK Minister Plots to end CAP Support

Farmers would be left empty handed if Tory minister had has way
Ahead of a debate on rural affairs in the Scottish Parliament today [Wednesday], the Tories have been accused of ‘spectacular hypocrisy’ on farm support – after lodging a motion on the issue which fails to explain how they would guarantee support for farmers if the UK votes to leave the EU.

Tory Farming Minister, George Eustice, has announced that he will vote for the UK to leave the EU – effectively campaigning for an end to all EU support for Scotland’s farmers and rural communities.

CAP support in Scotland is worth around £4 billion in the period from 2015 to 2020 – and the Scottish Government has invested £20 million in a new hardship fund to help farmers receiving late payments.

Commenting, SNP MSP Angus MacDonald said:

“Our farming industry is a vital part of our economy and our society – and it is right that they get the support they need to thrive. And while the complications of a new IT system have led to regrettable delays – the fact is the SNP in government is taking real action to protect farmers with a new £20m hardship fund.

“However it is quite spectacular hypocrisy from the Tories to try and score political points over farm support – when their own Farming Minister is set on seeing the support abolished in its entirety by dragging Scotland out of the EU.

“The truth is that the Tory Government has refused to give our farming communities any information about the future of the support payments they’ll receive if we’re out of Europe – the Tories in Scotland should come clean on their own Farming Minister’s plans.

“The SNP in government will continue to do everything we can to protect and support farmers – and to maintain vital CAP support by keeping Scotland in the EU. It’s time for the Tories to commit to doing what is in the best interests of our farmers – rather than launching partisan attacks to hide their own complete disarray on farming support.”

SNP Government Showing "Crucial Leadership" on Climate Justice

SCOTTISH CLIMATE JUSTICE FUND TO DOUBLE TO £12 MILLION
As global leaders continue to negotiate a new climate change agreement in Paris, campaigners have praised the "crucial leadership" shown by the SNP Government following their decision to double the Scottish Climate Justice Fund to £12 million.

The head of Oxfam Scotland, Jamie Livingstone, has said the Scottish Government "is showing crucial leadership" during the Paris climate change talks and Alistair Dutton of SCIAF has said that it "sets a positive example to other wealthy nations meeting in Paris."

Since it was established five years ago, £6 million has been distributed to projects in Africa through the Climate Justice Fund. The Fund seeks to mitigate the damage caused by climate change on the world's poorest communities, which are often hit hardest by its impact.

Yesterday, Scotland was also praised by the head of energy company Iberdrola, Ignacio Galan, as setting an "example to the world" on support for renewable energy and the development of low-carbon technologies.

Commenting, SNP MSP Angus MacDonald said:

"Since the Climate Justice Fund was established five years ago the SNP Government has been at the forefront of this growing global movement - the decision to double the fund to £12 million shows their ongoing commitment to this issue.

"While it has been the most developed and industrialised countries that have been the biggest contributors to carbon emissions, it is the poorest communities in the world who feel the devastating impact of climate change. The creation of a Climate Justice Fund, the first in the world when it was established, is recognition of this reality and our obligation to right this wrong.

"This Fund sits alongside our ongoing commitment to dramatically reducing Scotland's carbon emissions - in Scotland we are well on our way to meeting our ambitious long-term climate change targets and our commitment to low-carbon energy has been praised as an 'example to the world'.

"There is no doubt that Scotland is leading the way on climate change and climate justice - we hope the example can embolden the international community in their desire to reach a new climate change agreement."