Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Elliott has said that today’s Labour Budget will have a devastating impact on Northern Ireland farmers.

Lord Elliott said, “The significant changes to Agricultural Property Relief in the budget are likely to force many family farms out of business that have been within the family structure for generations.
 
“This decision coupled with the resolution that the NI farm support budget will no longer be ring-fenced, but instead be part of the Block Grant that DAERA will have to bid for is likely to cause farmers to go out of business and lead to significant increases in the cost of food in shops and supermarkets.
 
“The result will not only be bad for the farming community but also for food consumers and the public in general.
 
“The current government are certainly demonstrating an offensive against the agricultural sector that has the potential to have devastating consequences.”