A North Devon farmer has issued a stark warning over the Government’s newly announced consultation into the land use framework, which could result in sacrificing 10 per cent of farmland for net zero projects.
In a direct attack on Environment Secretary Steve Reed, Farmer James Wright told GB News the minister has “ruined his future” as a grassland farmer.
Wright described the policy as “complicated” and “jargon,” explaining it would serve as an advisory document for government and council decision-making on land use.
“This is just yet another death knell, another nail in the coffin for British farming,” Wright warned.
James Wright claimed that Reed’s latest move is the ‘final nail in the coffin’ for farmers
GB News / PA
The grassland farmer explained that livestock operations like his would be particularly impacted by the new requirements.
“On that little graph that they’ve published, it’s farms like me that are going to be the ones that are going to be told to stop farming,” Wright told GB News.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed has launched a 12-week consultation into the land use framework
PA
He highlighted the environmental contribution of livestock farming, noting that “the arable farms, they’ll carry on, but it’s the livestock farmers whose cows produce the poo that feeds the bees are the ones that are going to struggle.”
Wright warned the policy would not reduce food consumption, but rather shift production overseas.
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“It’s not like people are going to eat 18 per cent less food. That’s going to be 18 per cent more food that we’re importing, which just means we’re damaging the environment somewhere else,” he said.
Wright directed sharp criticism at Labour’s Environment Secretary Steve Reed, highlighting his limited engagement with the farming community.
“Steve Reed’s visited one farm since July when he was elected,” Wright said.
The North Devon farmer pointed out Reed’s urban background, stating: “City Steve hasn’t got a single farm in his constituency, he doesn’t even have a city farm.”
Wright suggested Reed’s appointment was politically motivated rather than based on agricultural expertise. “He’s a close ally of Keir Starmer and he’s basically just taking the kicking,” Wright said.
Wright told GB News that Steve Reed should ‘sort out the old deal’ with farmers first before sorting a new one
GB News
“What we need is a minister who’s going to stand up to the vested interests in this world that want to make sure that farming carries the can for every ill and woe, and that’s not what we’ve got.”
Wright also criticised the Government’s “family farm tax,” arguing it contradicts efforts to maintain domestic food production.
“Why have they introduced the family farm tax, which penalises the largest, most profitable, the most food producing farmers, if that’s the Government’s aim?” he questioned.
The farmer insisted this tax issue needs addressing before new policies are implemented. “Steve Reed talked at the beginning of the month about a new deal for farmers. Well, he needs to sort the old one out first,” Wright said.
He emphasised that larger farms, which face the highest tax burden, are particularly vulnerable.
Wright said: “He can’t move on from the family farm tax until he’s done that, because it’s the largest farmers will pay the most, they’re the ones who can least afford to pay it.”
