Cole-Hamilton commits to £170million for Scottish farming

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today outlined his plans to invest £170 million in Scottish agriculture during a visit to the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh.

Mr Cole-Hamilton discussed the plans with representatives of Scotland’s farmers and set out his party’s commitment to:

• Delivering an extra £170m for Scottish farmers, as part of the Liberal Democrats' £1 billion UK-wide-investment in agriculture.
• Using the money to support active farming, profit and employment, sustainability and biodiversity, and the future of Scotland's rural and remote communities.
• Give Britain’s farmers the ability to trade with our European neighbours with minimal need for checks by negotiating comprehensive veterinary and plant health agreements.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“Scotland’s farmers produce some of the best food in the world, but they have been neglected and undermined by governments in London and Edinburgh at every turn.

“The Conservatives’ botched deal with the EU combined with an SNP Government uninterested in rural communities has resulted in serious damage to the UK’s food system.

“We will put our money where our principles are, with £170 million for Scottish agriculture.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats will also fix our broken relationship with our European neighbours, tackle worker shortages and renegotiate trade agreements so that they always uphold our high environmental and animal welfare standards.

"Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats can beat the nationalists in huge swathes of rural Scotland. People are moving away from the SNP and backing the Liberal Democrats because they want a local champion who will put the needs of their communities and farmers first."