Senior Tories urge government not to cut ELM budget

A coalition of Conservative MPs and peers, including notable figures such as Claire Coutinho and Esther McVey, has sent a letter to the chancellor urging against cuts to the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme budget.

Twenty-three Conservative MPs and peers have signed the letter [PDF], published in The Telegraph, which warns the chancellor Rachel Reeves that the proposed £100m cut to the nature-friendly farming budget in England would put the nation’s food security at risk.

This request comes ahead of the Labour government’s upcoming Budget on Wednesday 30 October, amid fears that reductions would jeopardise farmers’ livelihoods and hinder environmental restoration efforts.

See also: Labour under pressure to rule out cuts to farming budget

In a statement, the Conservative MPs and peers said: “The European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy [CAP] was a disaster for the environment and did little to encourage productive and financially sustainable farm businesses.

“We are extremely concerned to hear reports that you are planning to cut the nature-friendly farming budget to the tune of £100m.

“This threatens the livelihoods of farmers, who are struggling like never before with high costs and the impacts of extreme weather events, and would harm our food security, too.

“It will also cast into serious doubt the government’s ability to hit the 2030 nature recovery target, which your party has consistently said it supports.”

At a time of significant financial and environmental pressures, cutting this budget would be “a short-sighted act of self-harm”, the MPs’ and peers added.

As the Treasury navigates significant budget constraints, including £40bn in proposed tax increases and spending cuts, there are concerns the government may prioritise short-term financial solutions over long-term environmental goals.

Critics argue that such cuts would undermine the positive strides made under the ELM and risk the UK’s commitment to protecting 30% of its land and seas for nature by 2030.

Kitty Thompson, from the Conservative Environment Network, which co-ordinated the letter, said that the success of the ELM relies heavily on adequate funding, warning that cuts could lead to detrimental outcomes for both agriculture and the environment.

CAP replacement

The previous Conservative government introduced ELM a replacement for the EU’s CAP, which was criticised for its environmental impacts and lack of support for sustainable farming practices.

The ELM scheme incentivises farmers to enhance environmental quality, improve soil and water health, and support biodiversity, making them a cornerstone of the UK’s post-Brexit agricultural policy.

The Labour government has repeatedly said it will continue its support for ELM, but it has failed to rule out a £100m cut to the £2.4bn annual farming budget for England.