Borders MSP Rachael Hamilton has challenged the First Minister to reverse cuts to the Scottish Rural Affairs budget during First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.
Ms Hamilton, who serves as the Scottish Conservatives’ Rural Affairs Spokesperson, made the call after it was revealed that £45 million was to be axed from next year’s budget for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands.
In her question to the First Minister, she highlighted that £28 million of these cuts were being made to funding that had been ‘ring-fenced’ for agricultural support.
Earlier in the week, the Deputy First Minister set out the Scottish Government’s revised spending plans in her Autumn Statement, during which the cuts were confirmed.
Border MSP Rachael Hamilton said: "Rural communities across Scotland continue to be pushed to the bottom of the pile of this SNP-Green Government’s priorities. A further cut to the rural affairs budget hardly comes as a surprise.
“Axing money that was ringfenced to support our farmers, who contribute enormously to Scotland’s economy, food security, and natural environment is a new low for the First Minister who has already failed to set out a clear vision for the future of agriculture in the new Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill.
“I am clear that the Scottish Government must reverse these disastrous cuts immediately, or risk driving more and more people away from rural communities like those here in the Borders.
“Our towns, villages and rural communities deserve better, and I will continue to stand up for people in the Borders and across rural Scotland who are suffering at the hands of this SNP-Green Government."
