Sunak vows to protect prime farmland from solar and rewilding

Rishi Sunak has vowed to protect domestic food production from the threat of solar farms and rewilding, as the Tory leadership hopeful rallies for the support of the farming industry.

In the race to become the next prime minister, Mr Sunak addressed a packed room of farmers at an NFU hustings event in Warwickshire on Friday (19 July), which his rival Liz Truss declined to attend.

The MP, who represents the rural seat of Richmond, said he would not be welcome back to North Yorkshire if he did not run a pro-farming government.

He said he has often spent time speaking to his constituents about agricultural issues.

See also: Farmers have their say on Truss-Sunak as NFU calls for hustings

Farmer pressure

Farmers are feeling the pressure of spiralling input costs, increased market competition from abroad and labour shortages.

There is also uncertainty about whether future agri-environment schemes will adequately reward businesses as the Basic Payment Scheme is phased out.

The NFU wrote to both Tory leader hopefuls in July, inviting them to the hustings to discuss policy commitments that will protect farmers and ease the pressure the industry is facing.

NFU president Minette Batters has called for a legally binding commitment on food production to maintain current levels of self-sufficiency, as well as directing more future farm funds to sustainable food production.

Prime agricultural land

At the hustings, Mr Sunak pledged to protect domestic food production.

He said: “Ultimately if we want to deliver it then we have to recognise that prime agricultural land needs to be protected to produce food.

“That means we have to take a different approach on solar farms, it means rewilding cannot come at the expense of food production when it is prime agricultural land and we need to make sure policy reflects that.”

Mr Sunak has agreed to the legally binding commitment on UK food production.

He also agreed with Mrs Batters that this was the starting point from which other key issues could be dealt with to ensure farmers have what they need.

Farm labour

One of which is labour, and Mr Sunak told journalists after the hustings he was “perfectly prepared” to support the industry both on the Seasonal Workers Scheme and longer term.

“As long as we are being tough on illegal migration and reforming our welfare system to get people off benefits and into work, I am very pragmatic about migration to support our economy,” he said.

On future funding, East Midlands farmer Joe Stanley asked Mr Sunak if he thought the historic CAP budget that has been ring-fenced for farming was sufficient to support food production and fund the climate and environment solutions farmers can provide.

Mr Sunak said farmers must be able to make the case for a good return on investment, and this would strengthen the industry’s hand when it comes to the Treasury budget in the next parliament.

“The things I am seeing you guys [farmers] do and the things that Victoria [Prentis] and George have innovated on give me more confidence that there will be many more types of ways to spend that money – which will argue for it being continued and maybe increased, but we’ve got to make them work.”

Trade deals

On trade, Mr Sunak said he would make farmers a priority in future deals and would not rush agreements through.

There has been industry criticism that his rival Ms Truss has given too much away to foreign farmers in the free-trade deals she has negotiated.

Ms Truss is expected to appear at a similar NFU hustings event on 1 September.