Labour has launched its rural England policy review and outlined its plan to become ‘the party of the great British countryside’ as LabourList reports on data showing that Government cuts will cost rural communities £255m this year

Following the release of analysis by the party of figures from the Rural Payments Agency, Luke Pollard MP (Lab) described the approach from ministers to withdrawing the basic payments scheme for farmers as ‘extraordinary’, adding that the plans would be risking as many as 9,500 jobs and pushing family farms to the brink’.

He added: ‘The Government needs to get a grip on this, review it, and provide the security that our rural communities desperately need as they recover and rebuild.’

The Government is phasing out the basic payment over the next few years as part of post-Brexit reforms to agriculture support.

According to a freedom of information request from Labour, £3.5bn was paid to farmers in the financial year 2019/20.

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Labour List - Labour launches policy review as data shows £255m cut to rural communities