Moray MP Douglas Ross has called Humza Yousaf’s speech to the Scottish NFU conference in Glasgow today a clear indication that the SNP/Green Government is totally out of touch with Scotland’s farmers and crofters.
Douglas said: “It was a very poor speech which will not have provided much reassurance to farmers in Moray and Scotland. They continue to be badly let down by this Scottish Government. Having been at the NFU Scotland conference on Thursday evening ahead of the First Minister's adress there was hope that he would finally provide some much needed answers to the sector, sadly many will have been left disappointed by the continued lack of detail and assurances. Many will also have been insulted when Humza Yousaf had the cheek to tell producers that they needed to improve their efficiency.
“Farmers in Moray and right across Scotland are right to be furious that the Scottish Government, led by Humza Yousaf, clearly have no idea what they are talking about.
“Although the First Minister did announce that our farmers will continue to receive support payments similar to the current rates, he failed to give any commitment to restoring the £46million that is missing from the farming budget.
“And, true to form, Humza Yousaf made his speech into a constitutional blame-game. The SNP/Green Scottish Government has no idea about the hours that farmers put in, not only to produce some of the highest quality food in the world, but also as custodians of our countryside.
“This was a disappointing speech from the First Minister, and farmers and crofters are rightly angry at his performance at the Scottish NFU’s annual conference.”
