Latest news with #TimBonner
Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Labour's cuts to farming subsidies ‘threaten wildlife'
Labour's cuts to farming subsidies will threaten wildlife and damage attempts to protect the rural environment, countryside campaigners have warned. They fear that cuts in the payments could see farmers being forced to work their land more intensively to make up the shortfall. The Government has announced that the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) – which rewards farmers for managing their land in a way that benefits the environment – is to be revised after the spending review in June. This will see a cap placed on how much money farmers can receive. Farmers and rural groups have warned the result will be to further endanger wildlife, their habitat and the environment, such as hedges and woodland. Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, told The Telegraph: 'With no guarantee of income for work to improve the environment many are having to take the difficult decision to revert to more intensive farming operations to generate enough money to keep their businesses afloat. 'Ministers need to understand that the delivery of environmental benefits requires farms to be economically sustainable. Short term financial decisions like the closure of SFI will have huge consequences for the future of the countryside. 'Many generational farms with an absolute commitment to conservation and restoring biodiversity are already reeling from the Government's changes to inheritance tax. This new uncertainty over agri-environmental payments means their business plans are in tatters.' David Exwood, deputy president of the National Farmers' Union, added: 'Fields that may have gone into non-farm use – such as a buffer strip or for winter bird seeds – won't happen. Farmers can't now leave those fields empty, because they are not going to get the subsidy which was paying for an environmental good any more. Without it there will be a direct impact on the environment.' Nearly 95 per cent of farmers had been planning to make new applications to the SFI, which aims to encourage sustainable food production while protecting and enhancing nature, before they were unexpectedly closed, according to a survey by the Country Land and Business Association. Under the SFI, which had run since 2021, farmers were eligible to receive payments from the Government for carrying out sustainable work. They could apply to any of over one hundred contracts, which included measures like hedgerow maintenance, soil analysis, reducing insecticide use and managing grasslands. These replaced payments made under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy which were based on the amount of land farmed and tended to encourage intensive farming. In some cases SFI payments were modest, such as £257 a year for pond management. Others were more lucrative and went some way to make up for low prices paid by supermarkets for farmers' produce. They also compensated for the scrapping of the old Basic Payment Scheme, which provided a vital supplement for hill farmers and crofters. Joe Evans, vice president of the Country Land and Business Association said: 'The UK Government rightly replaced subsidies with new schemes that pay farmers to transition farming practices to becoming more sustainable, as well as providing direct environmental benefits. 'The transition was going well, with more and more farmers planning their futures around nature-friendly food production. In closing the biggest scheme without a word of warning, trust that the Government is acting in good faith has been damaged. '40 per cent of our members weren't in the scheme but were planning to apply. 'This will cause a major cash flow crisis for thousands of businesses who have already been hit hard by other policy changes; but perhaps even more fundamentally, will stall progress in reversing nature decline and climate change. 'Without it, farmers will have to do what they need to do to survive – which may include farming much more intensively, harming the goal of sustainable food production.' Farmers have told The Telegraph they fear the cuts in environmental subsidies will have a dire impact on their attempts to safeguard nature. Annie Brown, a third-generation arable and livestock farmer in the South Downs, said her small family farm will suffer if their SFI payments end. Ms Brown's farm currently receives £50,000 a year in SFI payments, but these contracts are set to run out by 2027. 'This is the death knell of a lot of family farms,' she warned. 'We are resilient and we don't take much out of the business, but we need some support, and we need to know it'll be there for the foreseeable future. 'It takes us from actually making some money which we invest in the business to going cap in hand to the bank. 'The tapestry of our countryside is really under threat at the moment. You batten down the hatches, you don't invest. Some farmers will go under.' Ms Brown, 65 prides herself on taking a regenerative approach to farming on the 625 hectare holding she runs with her sister Pauline. But she says they will have to stop some of the sustainable measures which SFI payments allowed them to do, like soil sampling. 'The old adage of farmers in the red can't be green is true,' she said. The Government defended the changes to the sustainable farming subsidies. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said: 'We inherited farming schemes which were underspent, with farms missing out on millions of pounds. 'This Government is investing £5 billion into farming – the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country's history. 'We now have a record number of farmers into schemes and more money being paid to farms than ever before. 'Every penny in all existing SFI agreements will be paid to farmers, and the Government will reopen a new and improved SFI scheme with more details coming this summer.'
The Independent
11-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Farmers could be forced to sell land at lower value under new Labour plans
Farmers could be forced to sell fields for less than their potential value under measures included in the government's Planning and Infrastructure Bill, a move which risks deepening the rift between the government and rural communities. The legislation would give councils greater powers to acquire land through compulsory purchase orders, allowing them to pay only the current value of land, rather than what it could be worth if it was developed – as is the case in the current system. This could result in farmers and other landowners being forced to sell off their land at a much lower value than they would expect under current rules, if the land is identified as being necessary for new homes, hospitals or schools. It comes amid growing anger from farming communities after the government extended inheritance tax to cover agricultural properties at last year's budget, with thousands of farmers warning they will have to sell off family owned farms to afford the tax. Tim Bonner, of the Countryside Alliance, warned that the latest proposals are 'a step too far' in light of the mounting challenge on farmers posed by inheritance tax changes. 'We have been supportive of many of the government's changes to planning policy, but giving councils more power to reduce the value of land is a step too far, especially in the context of such a challenging outlook for farmers and the inheritance tax fiasco', he told The Telegraph. 'This is not about people blocking development, it's about the state paying the market price for land. We need more houses and more economic development, but not at the cost of basic principles.' The government has been accused of betraying farmers after Rachel Reeves' controversial changes to inheritance tax which have led to a revolt in countryside communities. Under the changes, farms valued at £1m or more will be subject to 20 per cent inheritance tax. The Treasury claims that with tax allowances taken into consideration, only farms worth £3m will be affected, amounting to just 28 per cent of family farms. But figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs appear to suggest that as many as 66 per cent could be hit. The government's Planning and Infrastructure Bill will include wide-ranging reforms, including streamlining the planning process, changing the way developers meet environmental obligations, and giving communities near new electricity pylons money off their energy bills. Along with recent changes to national planning policy, Labour hopes the legislation will help deliver on its promise to build 1.5 million homes and make decisions on 150 major infrastructure projects by the next election. Deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner said the government would create 'the biggest building boom in a generation' by 'lifting the bureaucratic burden which has been holding back developments for too long'. Other changes include a new nature restoration fund, allowing developers to pay into larger environmental projects instead of funding their own site-by-site initiatives, which the Government hopes will avoid a repeat of the £100 million 'bat tunnel' HS2 was required to build. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has been contacted for comment.
Telegraph
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Labour considering crackdown on farmers' access to shotguns
Labour is considering a crackdown on access to shotguns after a spate of shootings in a move that could hit farmers and rural communities The Home Office is to consult on tougher licensing conditions for shotgun owners that could make them as restrictive as those for owners of powerful bolt-action rifles. Countryside campaigners fear it would amount to another attack on farmers and rural workers by making shotgun ownership more expensive, limited and bureaucratic. Tim Bonner, the chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: 'It would drive down ownership as a whole. That could have massive implications for people trying to manage wildlife in the countryside but also for the gun industry which is a massive employer in rural areas.' On Thursday, Dame Diana Johnson, a Home Office minister, announced that it will consult on proposals to have 'closer alignment' of the controls on firearms including rifles and shotguns. The previous Tory government had originally ditched the plans. It's the latest in a range of measures set to affect rural communities, following an 'exorbitant' rise in gun fees announced last month, and the introduction of inheritance tax for farms worth more than £1 million. If the licensing for shotguns and rifles were aligned, it would require shotgun owners to justify and detail why they needed them unlike the current approach where they do not have to specify the particular purpose. Each shotgun could be required to be licensed. At present, the 610,000 shotgun owners can have multiple weapons with a single certificate. They would also have to store the ammunition separately and could be required to store their firearms in a different location outside their homes. Mr Bonner said: 'That would mean the ridiculous situation where you have farmers who are reacting to foxes eating their lambs who would have to go and get their guns from somewhere else. 'There are some people behind this who hate the concept of private gun ownership generally and are simply looking for any reason to make it more difficult, more expensive, more restrictive and bureaucratic and therefore drive down gun ownership as a whole.' Controls to 'increase public safety' The consultation was ordered by the Home Office after a number of shotgun-related crimes including Jake Davison, who shot and killed five people in Plymouth in August 2021. Davison had strongly misogynistic views and made 'disturbing' online posts, an inquest was told. Last November, Finlay MacDonald, 41, was jailed for 28 years for murdering his brother-in-law and attempting to kill three others during a shotgun shooting spree on the Isle of Skye and Scottish mainland. In its response to the initial firearms consultation, the Home Office noted a number of respondents 'expressed disappointment that it did not include the issue of closer alignment of the controls on shotguns and other firearms.' It continued: 'This included some law enforcement respondents, who considered that further controls on shotguns would increase public safety, and others including people who had been affected by shotgun shooting incidents. 'Some of these respondents pointed to the risks associated with shotguns being kept in certificate holders' own homes, including in towns and cities.' Other changes announced on Thursday included a requirement for applicants for shotgun licences to have two referees, as opposed to only one. This is on top of GP checks on an applicant's suitability to have a licence. Police would also be given powers to enter a property and seize firearms, shotguns or ammunition where there is a 'justification for reviewing suitability to hold a firearms certificate.' The move is designed to avoid the delay of having to get a warrant. At present, officers can only enter and seize weapons where there is an 'immediate threat to life'.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Countryside prepares for another hunting battle
Twenty years ago this month the Hunting Act came into force banning hunting live animals with hounds. Now the countryside is bracing itself for another battle with the government insisting that it will fulfil a manifesto pledge to ban trail hunting, where hounds follow a scent rather than pursue a live kill. The head of the Countryside Alliance campaign group Tim Bonner says "it's frankly extraordinary" that Labour has chosen to return to an issue that is "irrelevant to 99% of the population". But many Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green MPs claim the present law is not working and needs to be tightened. Trail hunting has been seen by many in the countryside as an acceptable alternative to fox hunting. Instead of chasing animals, hounds follow the scent of a fox or hare. If an actual fox is spotted the hounds must be called off. Hunting groups insist that they follow the law, but animal rights campaigners say foxes are still being killed. The League Against Cruel Sports told us that since August, there have been 23 reports of foxes being chased and 41 reports of hunts wreaking havoc across the East of England. A spokesperson for the British Hound Sports Association accused the League of "spreading unverified allegations to suit its agenda". Mr Bonner told the BBC Politics East programme that Labour was wasting its time on issue. "If you ask people what the government's priorities should be either in the countryside or elsewhere nobody will raise this issue," he claimed. "There is no logic to this proposal. There is a law in place and on the basis of all the evidence we have it works perfectly well." There were 573 successful prosecutions under the Hunting Act between 2005 and 2021. Mr Bonner said that only a handful involved people from hunts, with the majority of convictions being for poaching. "The Labour Party cannot drop this issue," he said. "Hunts still exist and that is apparently an insult to parts of the animal rights movement and some parts of the Labour party and until hunts don't exist they won't be happy." Alice Macdonald, Labour MP for Norwich North, insisted Labour was not obsessed with the issue and banning hunting was not its number one priority. "But there is evidence the Act isn't working and there are animals being hurt and public opinion has shifted," she said. Adrian Ramsay, Green Party co-leader and MP for the new rural Waveney Valley seat straddling the Norfolk/Suffolk border, said: "We need to ensure cruelty is stopped. "There is an alternative - we could end trail hunting and allow drag hunting where different types of scent are used." The exchanges on BBC Politics East are a sign of the arguments to come when the government publishes its proposals. Euan Nicolson is senior master of the Suffolk Hounds which rides in the Newmarket area. "Hunting has evolved since the ban 20 years ago. We follow a trail, the hounds love it, the followers love it and it's a really important part of the countryside community," he said. "We always have permission from the land owner whose land we cross and we do not go out to pursue wild animals. "It is always a possibility [that a fox could get harmed] but hunting is regulated and managed with protocols in place. Our huntsman has a very disciplined pack and were they to get on the wrong trail, which happens very infrequently, he calls them back. "I don't see why trail hunting is receiving all this attention." Mike Nicholas, communications officer with the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "I had nearly 1,400 reports last year of suspected illegal fox hunting and hunts wreaking havoc on rural communities. "The hunts are still ignoring the ban. We know that far out in the countryside away from public gaze the hunts are chasing and killing foxes. "We're also seeing behaviour that's entirely inconsistent with trail hunting - hunts on railway lines and in people's back gardens... distressing reports of killing people's cats and dogs. "Trail hunting is a deception to fool the public, the police and the courts. It's a smokescreen and so it's time for stronger fox hunting laws." Politics East is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00 GMT and is then available on the BBC iPlayer. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk. Are people still fox hunting? Two hunt workers convicted of illegal fox hunting Fox 'killed in hunt on school grounds' Trail hunt ban 'needs careful wording' says group Countryside Alliance League Against Cruel Sports
BBC News
09-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
BBC Politics East: Countryside prepares for another hunting fight
Twenty years ago this month the Hunting Act came into force banning hunting live animals with the countryside is bracing itself for another battle with the government insisting that it will fulfil a manifesto pledge to ban trail hunting, where hounds follow a scent rather than pursue a live head of the Countryside Alliance campaign group Tim Bonner says "it's frankly extraordinary" that Labour has chosen to return to an issue that is "irrelevant to 99% of the population". But many Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green MPs claim the present law is not working and needs to be tightened. Trail hunting has been seen by many in the countryside as an acceptable alternative to fox hunting. Instead of chasing animals, hounds follow the scent of a fox or hare. If an actual fox is spotted the hounds must be called off. Hunting groups insist that they follow the law, but animal rights campaigners say foxes are still being killed. The League Against Cruel Sports told us that since August, there have been 23 reports of foxes being chased and 41 reports of hunts wreaking havoc across the East of England. A spokesperson for the British Hound Sports Association accused the League of "spreading unverified allegations to suit its agenda". 'Labour can't drop this issue' Mr Bonner told the BBC Politics East programme that Labour was wasting its time on issue."If you ask people what the government's priorities should be either in the countryside or elsewhere nobody will raise this issue," he claimed. "There is no logic to this proposal. There is a law in place and on the basis of all the evidence we have it works perfectly well."There were 573 successful prosecutions under the Hunting Act between 2005 and 2021. Mr Bonner said that only a handful involved people from hunts, with the majority of convictions being for poaching. "The Labour Party cannot drop this issue," he said."Hunts still exist and that is apparently an insult to parts of the animal rights movement and some parts of the Labour party and until hunts don't exist they won't be happy." Public opinion 'shifted' Alice Macdonald, Labour MP for Norwich North, insisted Labour was not obsessed with the issue and banning hunting was not its number one priority."But there is evidence the Act isn't working and there are animals being hurt and public opinion has shifted," she said. Adrian Ramsay, Green Party co-leader and MP for the new rural Waveney Valley seat straddling the Norfolk/Suffolk border, said: "We need to ensure cruelty is stopped. "There is an alternative - we could end trail hunting and allow drag hunting where different types of scent are used." The exchanges on BBC Politics East are a sign of the arguments to come when the government publishes its proposals. View from the frontline 'Important part' of rural community Euan Nicolson is senior master of the Suffolk Hounds which rides in the Newmarket area."Hunting has evolved since the ban 20 years ago. We follow a trail, the hounds love it, the followers love it and it's a really important part of the countryside community," he said. "We always have permission from the land owner whose land we cross and we do not go out to pursue wild animals."It is always a possibility [that a fox could get harmed] but hunting is regulated and managed with protocols in place. Our huntsman has a very disciplined pack and were they to get on the wrong trail, which happens very infrequently, he calls them back."I don't see why trail hunting is receiving all this attention." 'Hunts still killing foxes' Mike Nicholas, communications officer with the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "I had nearly 1,400 reports last year of suspected illegal fox hunting and hunts wreaking havoc on rural communities. "The hunts are still ignoring the ban. We know that far out in the countryside away from public gaze the hunts are chasing and killing foxes."We're also seeing behaviour that's entirely inconsistent with trail hunting - hunts on railway lines and in people's back gardens... distressing reports of killing people's cats and dogs."Trail hunting is a deception to fool the public, the police and the courts. It's a smokescreen and so it's time for stronger fox hunting laws."Politics East is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00 GMT and is then available on the BBC iPlayer. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
