IT IS only right and proper that a ‘Brexiter’ has been given the agricultural brief at Defra within Theresa May’s new cabinet. But there endeth the good news!
Separating agricultural policy and support from the EU machine and then creating a successor policy will, most certainly, be one of the most arduous and important tasks facing the UK government over the next few years.
The fact that this most important of ministerial portfolios has been handed to Andrea Leadsom really does beggar belief. She evidently knows, and has shown to care, little in the past about agriculture.
Born in the ‘duck town’ of Aylesbury, and graduating in political science from Warwick University, she represents South Northampton in The Commons.
Her background, therefore, is Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire – not exactly the greatest agricultural counties in the land, but each with significant farming activities on some of the best land in the UK.
How she plans to turn these flat land arable fields over to sheep production is a mystery. She is evidently incapable of taking in even the most basic of agricultural practices taking place right in her doorstep.
And, if she can’t do that, what then of her ever feeling any empathy with the rural people of Scotland’s hills and glens? We can’t all farm butterflies even if we wanted to!
Indeed, it would be laughable, if it were not so serious. And yet, some of our agricultural organisations have “welcomed” her appointment. The real thoughts of the leadership of NFU Scotland etc will be much more interesting if we ever hear them.
Despite his farming background, George Eustice never did come over as as a dynamic leader of our industry. Now he is going to have to step up to the plate, especially since his title has changed ever so slightly with the words ‘farming and food’ being in his job title.
He is going to have to take his boss to one side, tell her not to open her mouth before engaging her brain and quickly teach her some basis agricultural facts. In this aspect, starting with a blank canvas could, just possibly, be viewed as a positive!