SNP farming policy in complete disarray

5.38.01pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 14th May 2009

George Lyon, top Liberal Democrat candidate for the European elections, has accused the SNP Government of repeated failures in implementing measures to help Scotland’s hill farmers and crofters.

George LyonSpeaking ahead of a hustings held by the crofting community in Dingwall, Mr. Lyon called on Richard Lochhead to get a grip and bring forward sensible proposals to halt the mass exodus of cattle and sheep from Scotland’s hills that the industry can unite around.

Commenting, Mr. Lyon said:

“The SNP Government’s track record of implementing measures to help farmers and crofters is shambolic. The Minister’s department seems to be in disarray.

“The SRDP was the SNP’s first major policy initiative but has been a major failure in the eyes of the industry.

“Despite being launched with a fanfare of publicity only 13 months ago, the Minister has been forced to respond to the barrage of criticism from farmers and crofters and order a fundamental review of the scheme.

“The latest proposal to help arrest the exodus of cattle and sheep from our hills has only succeeded in splitting the industry and setting farmer against farmer.

“The Minister has got to get a grip, sort out the shambles and make the SRDP work for farmers and crofters. He should rethink his proposals and bring forward measures that the industry can unite around.”