Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay and shadow rural affairs secretary Tim Eagle will join a rally outside the Scottish Parliament today (Thursday) to give their “full support” for farmers, crofters and the wider agricultural sector.
Both Russell and Tim will speak at the rally, which comes less than a week before the SNP Government deliver their Budget on December 4.
They say that the SNP has “short-changed” the industry for far too long and that the agriculture budget has often been “an easy target” for SNP ministers to use to make cuts.
Ahead of the rally, the National Farmers Union Scotland have made a Budget submission to the SNP Government which includes calls to restore £46 million to the agricultural budget and a commitment to multi-annual funding to provide stability to the sector.
Russell Findlay says farmers across Scotland are “reeling” from Labour’s “cruel” Family Farm Tax and the last thing they need is a Budget from the SNP that fails to address their concerns.
Tim Eagle added that as a farmer himself he is “acutely aware” of the challenges facing them and that their pleas outside Holyrood “cannot be ignored” by those in the ministerial tower inside.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Farmers are at the heart of our communities and deserve our full support. I will be proud to speak at this rally and give them my backing.
“For too long they have been short-changed by an SNP Government who have often seen the agricultural budget as an easy target to make cuts.
“That sums up how disconnected the SNP are from the reality facing those living and working in rural Scotland.
“Farmers are already reeling from Labour’s spiteful Family Farm Tax plans. The last thing they need in next week’s Scottish Budget is for the SNP to let them down again.
“Under my leadership, the Scottish Conservatives will always fight for our farmers, listen to their concerns and make sure their voice is always heard at Holyrood.”
Scottish Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary Tim Eagle MSP said: “As a farmer in Moray, I am acutely aware of the challenges facing us across the country.
“Next week’s Budget comes at a critical point for the sector and it is vital the SNP deliver the support our farmers, crofters and the wider agricultural sector need to thrive.
“I will be delighted to speak at this rally and it speaks volumes that so many farmers will attend at such a busy time of year for them.
“Their pleas outside Holyrood today cannot simply be ignored by SNP politicians inside in their ministerial tower.
“Farmers are being shamefully neglected by both the SNP and Labour governments, who simply don’t understand them, whereas the Scottish Conservatives will always be on their side.”