Scottish parties set out their stalls for general election

The Scottish Conservatives are promising a “new deal for farmers” in an attempt to attract more of the rural vote ahead of the general election on 4 July.

Setting out the party’s manifesto at the Royal Highland Show near Edinburgh on Thursday (20 June), shadow rural affairs secretary Rachel Hamilton said the agricultural sector had been “shamefully neglected” by the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) over the past 17 years.

See also: Battle for hearts and minds of farmers in election hots up

Mirroring some of the initiatives announced in the main Conservative manifesto last week, the Scottish version shares the ambition to raise the UK-wide farming budget by £200m a year during the next parliament, on top of the £3.7bn currently spent.

Other promises include:

• Giving Scottish farmers the right to use gene editing technology
• Introducing a Young Person’s Agri-Enterprise Fund to support new entrants
• Tackling rural crime with a Rural Theft Bill
• Establishing a Rural Charter for Scotland to underpin future policymaking

So important is the farming vote to the Scottish Conservatives, they have actually produced a specific 14-page Rural Manifesto, setting out a full set of policy ambitions.

“Our dedicated rural manifesto clearly shows how we are the voice of these communities who feel abandoned by ministers in Holyrood,” said Ms Hamilton ahead of the Royal Highland Show.

The publication of the Scottish Conservatives’ manifesto followed previous launches by the Scottish Labour Party on Tuesday (18 June) and the Scottish National Party on Wednesday (19 June).

Food security

While light on specifics, Scottish Labour spoke of food security being a national security issue and hence a reason to support farmers.

“We believe that we need to use public procurement to support local food producers, increasing the proportion of all food purchased across the public sector that is locally produced or certified to higher environmental production standards,” it said.

“The farming support budget must be used to properly support jobs and communities, while also encouraging practices that are beneficial for our food and environment.”

The document, signed by Scottish Labour Party leader Anas Sarwar, also points to strengthening animal welfare in Scotland, including humane wildlife control and appropriate land management.

Agriculture light

The SNP manifesto is even more limited in what it says about agriculture.

It majors on the perceived need for Scottish independence, and includes a reference here to the country’s “world-class food and drink industry”.

While acknowledging that it will not hold any decision-making power in the next UK government, it says any MPs it does send to Westminster will support sustainable funding for agriculture and seek a new veterinary agreement with the EU to enhance trade.

They would also campaign to rejoin the EU, so accessing additional farm support, and would look to devise a bespoke migration system for Scotland, including a pilot rural visa scheme and an expanded Shortage Occupation List.