'Let's build a better Britain' Farmer hits out at Sunak: 'Don't bite the hand that feeds you!'

'Let's build a better Britain' Farmer hits out at Sunak: 'Don't bite the hand that feeds you!'

WATCH NOW: British Farmer blasts Rishi Sunak

GB News
Georgia Pearce

By Georgia Pearce


Published: 20/02/2024

- 15:42

Rishi Sunak unveiled a new £220million package to support British farmers today

Rishi Sunak has been criticised by a British farmer, after pledging a fresh support package to help the agricultural industry.

The Prime Minister unveiled a new £220million fund for the UK industry during a visit to the National Farmers' Union conference in Birmingham.


The new support will help to increase productivity, providing new technologies including robotics, roof-top solar and agricultural research.

Sunak told attendees of the conference: "While the importance of farmers will never change, farming is going through its biggest change in a generation.

Gareth Wyn Jones and Rishi Sunak

British Farmer blasts Rishi Sunak after pledging to 'be on the side of farmers' at the NFU Conference

GB News

"And as farmers do so, this government will be by their side. And while thanks to you we enjoy good quality food all year round, global events, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have put food security back at the top of the agenda."

The Prime Minister added: "We'll never take our food security for granted. I know how important my neighbours, our farmers, truly are.

"You help to employ millions, add billions to our economy, shape the landscape, but most of all, you produce the food we need - food that is some of the best and highest quality anywhere in the world."

Reacting to the pledges, farmers Kelly Seaton and Gareth Wyn Jones hit out at the Government for "throwing money at the situation" affecting farmers across the country.

Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak unveiled a new £220million package to support British farmers

PA

Seaton told GB News that Sunak's measurements are "likely to be empty promises", making clear that farmers "don't want subsidies, they want a fair price for our food".

Welsh farmer, Wyn Jones, said his nation is "devolved" and so the money pledged by the PM will most likely "stay in England".

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Wyn Jones explained: "I want a fair price for what I'm producing - it's smoke and mirrors a lot of these things because there's an election year and he's looking to try and get back into the rural community by dropping some money.

"Which is great, I'm not going to say no, but I wish we were having that money in Wales."

Wyn Jones then revealed: "There is going to be a big demonstration in Cardiff next week. A lot of people are going to go down peacefully, respectfully and just ask the question on Welsh Government, what are you doing to Welsh agriculture?

"People need to understand that farmers all across the UK are on our knees. We need the support of the general public. All people are going to go hungry, we are sleepwalking into food shortages. Let's build a better Britain on our bellies. Let's have this farming food revolution. But Government in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have to understand, don't bite the hand that feeds you."

Gareth Wyn Jones

Gareth Wyn Jones says the farming industry is 'on its knees'

GB News

When asked by host Bev Turner if there's anything Rishi Sunak can do to help food pricing in supermarkets for farmers, Seaton replied: "I think there are talks at the moment about making a fairer supply chain.

"That's part of what he's going to announce, making it fairer for egg producers, dairy producers and I think pork producers.

"But I don't know how effective it will be. We've seen previously things that have come out haven't been that effective. So let's see what happens."

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