Boris Johnson’s 'convergence' cash announcement has been warmly received by the farming industry following years of controversy over the ‘lost’ funds of £160m which were owed to Scotland backdated to 2013.

At a time where many businesses are struggling to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, this has gone some way to lightening the load facing the farming community, pointed out NFU Scotland’s president, Andrew McCornick.

But, he was quick to praise the Tory leadership contender’s promise to Scottish farmers: “This is set to be the single biggest cash injection to Scottish farming in a very long time and when it comes, it will make a big difference to many.

“The convergence money was originally awarded to the UK in 2013, off the back of Scotland’s low payment rate per hectare. Without Scotland and our 85 % Less Favoured Area land, the UK as a whole would have received a payment cut,” he continued.

“NFU Scotland has argued from the very beginning that the £160m of convergence money deserved to be in Scotland and not distributed between the four nations as it was. I am delighted that Mr Johnson shares our opinion and I am hopeful that this means we are on our way to having this injustice corrected,” he said.

“This announcement has certainly not come out of nowhere. The Bew review on convergence will have been an important factor. I am hopeful that the recommendations of this independent process will reach a similar conclusion.

"I am sure the discussions that have taken place during that review have been fraught, but the tenacity of our Scottish representative, the former NFUS president, Jim Walker, in the review has helped to rectify a long running injustice,” he added.