What can farmers expect from Michael Gove?

Michael Gove’s appointment as Defra secretary this week surprised everyone, including him.

A strong advocate of leaving the EU, Mr Gove will head the team tasked with forming Brexit policy for food, farming and the environment.

His biggest job will be shaping the UK’s new model for agricultural policy outside the world of subsidies under the EU Common Agricultural Policy.

See also: Gove pledges to put farmers at centre of policymaking 

Defra says “oversight of EU exit work and the overall policy programme” will top the list of Mr Gove’s responsibilities.

But what should farmers expect from Mr Gove? What does he stand for in terms of food and farming policy?

Farmers Weekly has delved into the past to unearth Mr Gove’s views on agriculture and rural issues, including his voting record on some farming issues.

Badger cull and fox hunting

In June 2013, Mr Gove voted in favour of culling badgers to tackle bovine TB. He also supports lifting the ban on fox hunting.

Trade

Mr Gove would like to see trade barriers with the rest of the world removed after Brexit. In an interview with Nick Robinson on Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “We would benefit from being able to take back control of our seat at the World Trade Organisation.

“At the moment Britain is represented at the WTO by the EU’s single representative – an ex-sociology lecturer from Sweden.

“I’d like to see a Briton on the WTO determining trade policy. More than that, I would like to see barriers – trade barriers – that we’ve erected in the EU against developing nations come down.”

Subsidies

Farm subsidies will continue until 2022 in line with the Conservatives election manifesto, Mr Gove has confirmed. After that, the future is unclear.

Labour (agricultural workforce)

Mr Gove is committed to ensuring agriculture has continued access to migrant labour – and to do so, a new seasonal agricultural workers scheme may need to be introduced.

“We need to make sure that the workforce is there and the support is there,” he told Radio 4.

Red tape

Mr Gove is committed to cutting unnecessary EU bureaucracy. He is involved in a cross-party major review, which aims to identify EU-originated red tape needlessly tying up British businesses.

Food imports

In an interview with the Daily Mail before the EU referendum, Mr Gove said British consumers could benefit from cheap food as a result of striking trade deals with emerging nations after Brexit.

“An independent Britain could choose to strike free trade agreements with emerging economies and lower tariffs, extending new opportunities to developing nations and in the process allowing prices in Britain to become cheaper,” he said.

Animal welfare

Mr Gove has previously stated that all EU farmers should be made to conform to the same standards on animal welfare as British farmers.

EU Habitats Directive

Earlier this year, Mr Gove said Brexit would allow Britain to scrap “absurd” rules such as the EU Habitats Directive – the EU’s core conservation law.

In particular, he said the rules were holding back development of homes in environmentally sensitive areas.

“As a result, my constituents and, perhaps your children, find homes more expensive and mobility in this country impeded,” he said.

Renewables

In 2015, Mr Gove voted with the government when it applied a climate change levy tax on non-domestic electricity produced from renewable sources.

Devolution

Mr Gove has generally voted in favour of handing more powers to devolved administrations, which could clash with suggestions that Defra plans to centralise more agricultural powers to Westminster after Brexit.

Fracking

Mr Gove has a mixed record on fracking. He previously voted for greater restrictions on fracking in national parks. However, he has also voted against explicitly requiring environmental permits for fracking activities.

HS2 High Speed Rail project

Mr Gove has consistently voted in favour of the government’s high-speed rail project, HS2, which will result in hundreds of farmers and landowners losing their businesses to compulsory purchase orders.