ALMOST THREE and a half years on from when the UK decided to leave the EU on June 23, 2016, Brexit has been delayed three times and a general election looms, with the UK public due to take to the polls this coming Thursday, December 12, to decide on the UK Government that will take us forward.

With the Brexit can well and truly kicked down the road and no further negotiations taking place until after the general election, uncertainty over a future outwith the EU has remained firmly on the minds of Scottish agriculture who are awaiting answers.

The SF asked the rural spokespeople for Scotland’s five main political parties to hear what they have to offer Scottish farmers and crofters and what assurances they could give to those who are still undecided on who they wish to lead them through the coming months. Next up we spoke to the SNP...

FERGUS MUTCH MP (SNP)

"A VOTE for the SNP on December 12 is a vote to protect farming and food production in Scotland, escape Brexit, and give us the chance to choose our own future.

The SNP is clear that the best option for Scotland’s rural, coastal and island communities is to stay in the EU.

In the next UK Parliament, SNP MPs will do everything possible to prevent a no deal Brexit; to resist the UK Government grabbing devolved powers over farming and food production; to press for devolution of the red meat levy to bring over £1 million additional to the livestock sector; to maintain current and future EU standards and regulations in key areas like animal welfare and plant health if we leave the EU – and resist attempts to ban live transport of livestock.

Crucially, they will fight to prevent damaging tariffs and for affected sectors like red meat, seed potatoes, cereals, and seafood to be fully compensated if they are hit by the impact of tariff free imports.

For six years, the SNP campaigned for the convergence funding stolen from farmers in Scotland by the Tories to be returned. The SNP has ensured that £80 million has now been handed over by the Westminster government – we will keep up the pressure until every penny of the £160 million owed comes to Scotland.

Around 10,000 EU citizens are employed in food and drink, particularly in food processing, and up to 22,000 seasonal migrant workers are employed in the soft fruit and vegetable sectors. SNP MPs will call on the UK government to guarantee EU nationals’ right to remain in the UK, and for devolution of migration policy. If the UK Government insists on creating a seasonal migrant workers’ scheme, rather than retaining freedom of movement, we will press for it to meet the needs of workers and businesses in Scotland.

The standing of farmers and crofters in the supply chain must be improved. We will press the UK Government to increase confidence between producers, their customers, and consumers. This means strengthening and extending the remit of the Groceries Code Adjudicator so it has real clout to root out unfair treatment of farmers as the primary producers. And we will listen carefully to the sector’s views on mandatory written contracts and press the UK Government to better meet the interests and needs of milk producers.

Scotland currently receives around £580 million each year through the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, providing a lifeline for many farmers, crofters and rural businesses. Despite SNP MPs pressing for certainty, the UK Government has refused to set out how this funding will be replaced in longer term if we leave the EU."