PM offers support to protesting farmers whilst in Llandudno

Farmers across Wales have been protesting against the Welsh Government’s proposals to change farming subsidies. The sustainable farming scheme (SFS), which is currently under consultation, would require 10 per cent of a farmer’s land to be covered in trees and the same amount again set aside for wildlife habitat.

The Labour government in the Senedd insists the change is necessary to fight climate change but could be adjusted by the end of the consultation.

Rishi Sunak speaks at the conference at Venue Cymru, Llandudno (Image: Dr James Davies, MP)
Mr Sunak met campaigners outside the Welsh Conservative Conference in Venue Cymru on Friday, February 23. He told them: “sorry for what you are going through”.

He said: “We’re going to do everything we can because we’ve got your back.”

Taking questions after his speech at the conference, Mr Sunak also said there was “visceral anger” among the farming community in Wales.

“That anger is palpable, and they have every right to be angry,” he said.

“By the Welsh government’s own assessment, their ideas are going to lead to thousands of job losses, reduce our food production and food security and destroy farm incomes."

Tractors park up outside Venue Cymru (Image: Submitted)
Farmers in their tractors assembled outside Venue Cymru to voice their feelings.

Gareth Wyn Jones, a campaigning farmer and YouTuber with more than two million subscribers, told the PA news agency: “We are here to state our frustrations with the Welsh Labour government for not listening to us.

“The 20 per cent SFS, we need that to be stopped.

“If you take 20 per cent of the farmer’s food production, it is 20 per cent less crops, 20 per cent less meat, less sheep, beef, everything comes down to that.

Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders pictured by the tractors (Image: Submitted)
“That knocks on for your hauliers, your auctioneers, agricultural wholesalers, feed merchants, everything will be lost, it’s taking out of the whole rural economy.”

Mr Wyn Jones said some farms would be able to cope with the change, but every farmer he knew “was on the other side”.

Einion Owen, a farmer from North Wales, said he had come along because he felt "strongly" about the cause.

RELATED STORIES

• Tractors gather in Llandudno ahead of Conservatives conference

• Farmer protest during Mark Drakeford's visit to Rhyl college

• More than 40 tractors take part in protest in Old Colwyn

“It’s about the future, for our kids, our farms, our industry, our way of life.

“We farmers are passionate about food and food is already facing pressure from inflation.

Sam Rowlands MS on the panel at the conference in Llandudno (Image: Justine Evans)
“This is land that has been worked hard over hundreds of years to turn into productive land, so we don’t have to put food on a boat to bring it from Brazil or Argentina. Food grown locally and eaten locally.

“I’m all for helping the environment, I’m already reducing my fertiliser usage but to take away more of our land it would have a detrimental impact on our business.”

Protestors in Llandudno (Image: Denise Howard)
Janet Finch-Saunders, MS for Aberconwy, was pleased to see the farmers outside the conference.

She said Mr Sunak MP delivered speech about his vision for Wales and the UK. He also participated in a Q&A and went out to meet with the farmers.

“I thank the farmers for the impressive turn out, and the prime minister for taking the time to speak and listen to them," she said.

MS Janet Finch-Saunders spoke with protesting farmers (Image: Submitted by Janet Finch-Saunders)
"I had some very good discussions with local farmers and assured them I would do all in my power to try and prevent the Sustainable Farming Scheme from being implemented."

Are you a farmer from North Wales willing to speak about their concerns? Email suzanne.kendrick@newsquest.co.uk