The Welsh Conservatives have called for a binding vote in the Welsh Parliament on the Welsh Government’s new Sustainable Farming Scheme.

The new scheme is expected to be published this summer. There was outrage across rural Wales following the publication of the previous scheme, which was drawn up by Labour and Plaid Cymru as part of their ‘Co-operation Agreement’. The plans would have resulted in a reduction in Welsh livestock numbers by over 120,000, the loss of five and a half thousand jobs on Welsh farms, a £200 million loss to the rural economy, and unrealistic tree planting and biodiversity targets.

Speaking after First Minister’s Questions in the Senedd today, Welsh Conservative Leader, Darren Millar MS, said:

“The Welsh Labour Government has failed our agricultural sector by backing Labour’s Family Farms Tax and proposing a new farming scheme that would have devastated our countryside.

“It is essential that the next scheme has confidence of farmers and rural Wales so there must be a binding vote in the Senedd on the proposals.

“All Members deserve to have their say on such an important matter. While the First Minister shirked responsibility today, the Welsh Conservatives will always stand up for our farmers—because no farmers means no food and no future.”