SofteningTheBlow

SOFTEN THE BLOWlevel that’s currently being spent on the Single Farm Payment,could be spent nationally for the same purpose without thesame restrictions, rules, or threats of us being fined if we don’tdo things properly et cetera. Up to that point, that’s a logicalargument, that’s all correct.‘The trouble is that that might be UKIP policy but of allthe scenarios we can think of for the next election, the fact thatUKIP’s going to form a government is probably not the toplikelihood. The other main parties have all said they want toreduce direct payments to farmers as quickly as they can, ideallyby 2020, and that’s certainly the position of the two main partiesof this country. The only thing that’s stopping them is the factthat we are in the European Union, so the idea that any kindof likely government is going to take the money and just carryon giving it to farmers seems pretty implausible, because it goesdirectly against what they’ve all said. They’ve all said there’s nolegitimate cause for doing that, and [the money] should be inthe public good.’Dr Clark added:‘Any proportion [of the old subsidy] would come with verysignificant strings attached for doing specific things, very few ofwhich are to do with being more profitable or productive. Most ofthem would make us less productive and less profitable. The [UKIP]argument probably could sway some people who want to be swayed,but I can’t see how it holds any water at all. It directly contradictsthe stated position of the Labour party going back to 2005, and theConservatives and the Coalition. The three main parties have allsaid: “We’re not going to do that.” The Treasury too.’Referring to the subsidies discussion (above), MrHaworth was keen to make the NFU’s position clear:‘We’ve been talking an awful lot about direct payments andsubsidies, but let’s be absolutely clear, that is not our priority.· 18 ·