The Welsh Lib Democrats have today revealed that the Conservative
Government has not conducted any analysis of the impact of Brexit
on sheep farming in the UK.
The revelation was made after a Liberal Democrats freedom of
information request to the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs confirmed the Department did not hold any
information or documents relating to an assessment of the impact
of Brexit on sheep farming.
A response from DEFRA added: “We [DEFRA] can confirm that to the
best of our knowledge the information is not held by another
public authority.”
Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader added:
“It beggars belief the UK Government has failed to carry out
assessments on the impact of Brexit on sheep farming. This speaks
volumes about the UK Government’s incompetence on Brexit and
their disdain for Welsh farming.
“Whilst the Conservative UK Government may be more concerned with
appeasing large landowners in England, they appear to have
forgotten the farmers and small businesses at the heart of rural
communities across Wales.
“How can the UK Government not know how Brexit will impact one of
the most important areas of Welsh farming? And how are Welsh
farmers expected to have confidence in a UK Government that
forgets about them?
“Substantial questions must be asked about the effectiveness of
Conservative MPs representing rural constituencies across Wales.
How can they claim to be standing up for rural communities if
their UK Government appears to be ignoring them completely?
“Securing a people’s vote on the final deal is more important
than ever to give the option of restoring certainty and security
for farmers by remaining in the EU.”
