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Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
'We don't feel valued' - Farmer angst over political uncertainty at Royal Highland Show
Inheritance tax and trade deal contribute to general sense of being 'well down the pecking order' Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... With hundreds of thousands of people walking through the gates to celebrate Scotland's largest agricultural show, you would think farmers felt supported. But that wasn't the general feeling among members of the farming community attending the Royal Highland Show in 2025, a year that has seen political change bring an uncertain future for many in the sector across the UK. Political promises Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon opened the show with promise sounding statements, including the Scottish Government's decision to reject climate change advice to cut livestock numbers by almost 30 per cent by 2040. However, Tory MSPs attending the show, including Tim Eagle and Finlay Carson, were quick to point out cattle herds and sheep flocks are in decline anyway, with little to no mention of how policy will protect numbers dwindling further. MSPs, including Tim Eagle (second from left) at a political debate at the NFUS stand at the Royal Highland Show | Katharine Hay Ms Gougeon also announced £14m will be available for farmers to apply for funding for the Future Farmers Investment scheme. Some in the industry, however, felt this will only back a few hundred businesses and will instead just 'get hopes up.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Farmers on the ground were fairly dismissive of the SNP politicians bearing gifts, with some in the showground accusing ministers of paying lip service. Uncertain future for next generation Ewan McCall, who farms Luing cattle near Golspie, in the north east Highlands, spoke to The Scotsman about the uncertainty he feels in the sector and for his children, who he hopes will have a future in agriculture. Ewan McCall, who farms Luing cattle in the north-east Highlands | Katharine Hay 'It has been a tough year,' he said. 'We have had a lot of pressures from government: inheritance tax, the ongoing problems with tree planting and the grab for land for that. 'There are the trade deal issues as well. There's so much uncertainty at the moment that we don't feel valued. We don't really know what the future will be for the next generation.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr McCall said the declining beef herds, if left to continue, will impact the wider agricultural industry. 'We don't want the cattle numbers to drop any further, nor sheep numbers,' he said. 'We need to think about food security at a government level and take it seriously. We are in a very uncertain world at the moment.' On a positive note, the farmer said prices for cattle are currently good. But it's a small bonus. 'There are mixed emotions,' Mr McCall added. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Our personal businesses have been okay. But it's the ongoing background pressures that probably have been putting a dampener on things. 'I am positive about the future but I would like to have more certainty about how things are going to progress and what the future holds for the next generation, for my kids.' Real impact of 'family-farm tax' Farming unions said they are going to keep up the pressure on UK ministers to revise or u-turn on the 'family farm' tax proposals. However, Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray, who attended the show on Thursday, said the party will not budge. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It is one of the many worries looming over the farming industry, including for Mr McColl. 'The difficulty is if I was to die early, my kids would be faced with massive inheritance tax,' he said. 'The farm would have to be sold and they wouldn't get the chance to farm and that's something I feel really strongly about. In that respect, it's not good at all.' Laura Needhin, farmer in Aberdeenshire, echoed Mr McCall's concerns. Laura Needhin, a sheep farmer in Aberdeenshire | Katharine Hay 'There's a lot of uncertainty ahead,' she said. 'I don't think the Labour government, in particular, are backing farmers enough. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Inheritance tax for lots of small farms that have moved through families for 200 hundred years are going to be gone. It's a big worry for a lot of farmers.' At the opening of this year's show, the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) called on the Scottish Government to promise a multi-annual funding commitment for the farming sector. Lack of detail on future of subsidies to support farmers It comes after years of uncertainty on how Scotland's subsidy system will work post-EU with only half of the scheme confirmed a decade after Brexit. Sheep farmer and Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) lecturer Heather Kerr said while price stability in the sector is relatively good at the moment, 'it's always something you worry about because, long-term, we don't have a huge amount of information with what's going on with subsidies.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Heather Kerr, a sheep farmer and lecturer at the SRUC | Katharine Hay Ms Kerr added: 'It's difficult to plan so that we can be in a good place when the changes come as they are not things that you can just change overnight.' The college lecturer said while the employment rate for students with rural skills is high, the barrier for new entrants into farming still remains strong for those without the cash for land. At a debate held in the NFUS stand at the show, promises were made from politicians of all political stripes to do more to encourage new entrants and young farmers in the industry. A young farmer's outlook Young farmer Alice Haig, who farms with her dad in Forfar, pointed to multiple challenges the younger generation face in the sector. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We're not as supported as people think we are. There's a bit of a rift in between people in towns and rural folk, and I think that's come on since this UK government has come in power.' She said the reality of farming doesn't always appeal to her peers, which could explain labour shortages in the sector. 'Sometimes younger people think it's a nine to five but it's not,' Ms Haig said. 'It's hard to get a job that's got set hours in farming. It's hard to make a good amount of money in farming. It's also hard to get reasonably priced housing in rural areas. It's cheaper to live in towns and cities, you get better paid, you can plan for the future. So I think farming suffers a bit from that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Laura Haig, who farms with her father in Forfar, Angus | Katharine Hay 'It's not just young farmers. I think the lack of support that farming is getting as a whole means we are not supported as young farmers and we don't see it as a prospect that we might once have done.' Agriculture 'well down the pecking order' Elsewhere, farmers shared the undervalued sentiment. Gordon McConochie , a farmer from Grantown-on-spey in the Cairngorms National Park, said agriculture seems to be 'well down the pecking order' when it comes to other land management such as species reintroductions. Gordon McConachie, who was showing Aberdeen Angus and Highland Cattle at the Royal Highland Show | Katharine Hay He said the increase in raptors has been 'phenomenal', but the impact on the farming community and other species are often overlooked. 'I have no faith in any of the politicians to do anything radical. They seem to be scared to venture into agriculture. We are the whipping boys of the country at the moment. 'Our farming leaders need to be stronger.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Retired farmer Andrew McConchie, who ran a livestock farm in Dumfries and Galloway, said: 'I represent hill farming. The only thing the governments seem to be interested in is carbon capture. Retired farmer Andrew McConchie, who farmed in the south-west of Scotland and represents hill farming | Katharine Hay 'My grandson started farming now, I retired ten years ago, I definitely wouldn't change places with him. You just don't know whether you're wanted or not.
STV News
04-06-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Knuckle dusters, claw hammers and baseball bats used by pupils in school staff attacks
A warning of an 'epidemic of classroom violence' across the country has been issued, after pupils attacked Moray school staff more than 500 times this year. An FOI from the Scottish Conservatives revealed 1,142 violent incidents towards staff were recorded last year, with a further 1,275 occurring in 2023. Some of the assaults, which took place across the region, involved knives, claw hammers, knuckle dusters and baseball bats. The new figures released by Moray Council come as violence against teachers in Aberdeen schools saw a 25% rise in the past year. Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, Tim Eagle, believes there has been a 'breakdown of discipline' and criticised the government's approach when it comes to supporting teachers. He said: 'Teachers need to be given additional support to ensure they feel safe to carry out their duties in the classroom but not enough is being given. 'Across Moray, children deserve to learn in environments free from violence and disruption, and our teachers deserve to be protected from such horrifying incidents. 'The Scottish Government's priority should be giving every child in Scotland the opportunity to succeed in life and that starts with reducing classroom violence, protecting teacher numbers, and driving up standards to benefit Moray's future generation.' Moray Council says it 'takes the safety and wellbeing of all staff extremely seriously' and that they're 'actively working to address these challenges'. A spokesperson said: 'To support staff in their handling of an incident, and reduce incidents of violence, Moray Council has implemented enhanced reporting and monitoring; staff support and training; positive behaviour frameworks, including the CALM theory approach; targeted interventions; partnership working – working closely with parents, carers, Police Scotland, trade unions and community partners to ensure a coordinated response to behavioural issues both in and out of school. 'Since introducing this approach and changes to our Additional Support Needs offer, we have seen positive impacts and an overall reduction in violent and aggressive behaviour across our settings. 'While violent and abusive behaviour towards staff or pupils is completely unacceptable, understanding the context of the number of incidents is important. We're committed to creating safe, respectful learning environments and will continue to support our schools and staff with the resources and strategies they need to ensure that every school in Moray is a safe place to learn and work.' A Scottish Government spokesperson added: 'Violence or abusive behaviour in our schools is completely unacceptable – it is important that schools are safe environments for staff and pupils alike. 'We are providing support and direction at a national level through our Relationships and Behaviour in Schools Action Plan. We have been working with a range of partners on new guidance on fostering positive, inclusive and safe school environment, including the use of consequences, which we will publish before the end of the school term. 'Local authorities have the statutory responsibility for delivery of education in Scotland and therefore are expected to implement this guidance at a local level.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Plans to tell families to eat less meat could be death-knell for the Sunday roast
Scots families face being told to eat less meat and farmers to cut the number of sheep and cattle under the SNP 's push for Net Zero. The Scottish Government's climate advisers have demanded a 30 per drop in meat consumption and a 36 per cent cut in sheep and cattle numbers to hit the 2045 target. Farmers said the 'deeply concerning' plans would 'devastate' hard-pressed businesses and issued a warning over the threat to the traditional Sunday roast. With more than 90 per cent of Scottish beef and 80 per cent of Scots lamb sold in the UK, the Scottish Conservatives warned ministers not to treat farmers as 'easy targets' in the scramble for Net Zero. Scottish Tory rural affairs spokesman Tim Eagle, who runs a sheep farm near Buckie, Moray, said: 'These overarching recommendations could spell the death knell for the ever-popular Sunday roast. 'Everyone needs to do their bit to tackle climate change, but it looks as though the committee have earmarked farmers to be an easy target once again. 'Killing off millions of livestock and asking people to drop their red meat consumption isn't just unrealistic, it threatens a way of life. 'The way to achieving net zero ambitions is by bringing key sectors such as agriculture along with the rest of us but instead they will feel vilified by these proposals.' The independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) this week set out a 'balanced pathway' to end Scotland's net carbon emissions. Relying on 'immediate action at pace and scale', the plan would cost £750million a year over 25 years and requires huge changes in vehicle use, home heating and energy generation. But the fine print also contained stark proposals for agriculture. As well as restoring peatland and tree planting to absorb carbon, the CCC called for 'a reduction in meat (especially beef and lamb) and dairy consumption within overall healthier diets' so farmers can 'diversify income streams' and produce 'lower carbon foods'. Cattle and sheep numbers should drop 26 per cent by 2035 and by 36 per cent by 2045, with average meat consumption down 20 per cent by 2035 and 30 per cent by 2045. The report said: 'Households consuming on average 30 per cent less meat and 20 per cent less dairy by 2045 reduces emissions directly from livestock and frees up land to enable peatland restoration, tree planting, and energy crops.' The Tories said it implied culling millions of animals. The CCC says the 'exact pathway and policies' are for ministers and MSPs to decide. According to the annual agricultural census, there were 6.5 million sheep and lambs in Scotland last June and 1.7million cattle and calves, including 650,000 beef and 266,000 dairy cows. There were also 12 million poultry, 315,000 pigs and 16,000 farmed deer. Sales of Scottish beef and lamb across the UK were worth £750 million in 2023. With 63 per cent of Scottish beef and 58 per cent sheep meat sold to the rest of the UK, a livestock slump would hit eating habits nationwide. The National Farmers Union Scotland said the proposed cuts to sheep and cattle numbers were 'deeply concerning' and would 'devastate' low-profit hill farms in particular. Scotland President Andrew Connon said: 'We must be crystal clear: slashing livestock numbers is not the solution. 'Scottish agriculture is already among the most climate-efficient in the world with many farmers already adopting new technologies, renewable energy and nature-friendly practices. 'With the right backing, we can go further but that journey must be fair, practical and properly supported.' Holyrood's Climate Change Act of 2009 set a target for reducing 'greenhouse gas emissions' by 80 per cent by 2050, but this was changed in 2019 to eliminating them by 2045, with interim targets for 2020, 2030 and 2040. SNP ministers were forced to ditch the interim targets but they kept the overarching goal of Net Zero by 2045. Tory analysis of emissions figures suggests it will take until 2080 to reach Net Zero at the current pace. Net Zero spokesman Douglas Lumsden said: 'If the SNP remain wedded to hitting 2045, this report makes it clear households will suffer eye-watering costs being imposed, or there will have to be drastic changes in lifestyles.'
The Herald Scotland
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Why should pupils and families on Mull settle for 'good enough'?
There is a tendency in government to consider a decision as etched in stone, even if the outcome is not ideal: "live and learn", "we'll get'em next time", and all that. Governments are reluctant to revisit decisions or grant special consideration because they risk setting a precedent in which every stakeholder in the future will demand an exception. But is that such a bad thing? Surely one of the responsibilities of the government is to take every decision on its merits. Leaders shouldn't sit on their hands just because intervening means they will have to have an awkward conversation with someone later on, so what should the government do when it looks like things have gone wrong? The question was raised this week at Holyrood, during a debate on 'empowering Scotland's island communities.' The recent decision by Argyll and Bute Council on where to build a new school on Mull was brought back into the spotlight, and highlighted by Conservative MSP Tim Eagle as an example of 'when things go wrong' when decision-makers ask island communities for their opinions but don't really listen to their answers. Read more: Lessons to Learn | The SNP reduced education targets and hoped no one would notice The Herald covered the saga of the Mull Campus Project extensively and the council's eventual decision to locate the replacement for the island's crumbling school in the northern town of Tobermory. This effectively cut off the southern half of the island from attending. Those communities will continue with the longstanding practice of sending their children to board on the mainland during the week. Parents who boarded as children and struggled with life away from home initially heralded the Mull Campus Project as a chance to break the cycle for the next generation. Increasingly, however, they became disillusioned with the process and felt that the project was moving to a foregone conclusion: the school would be put in the north, and things would stay as they are. Their hopes were up initially in part because parents could not imagine how the project could be called a Mull Campus if it was not going to be built where the whole island could benefit. In a way, they were proved right: following the decision, the council began referring to it as the 'Tobermory Campus Project' in all communications, even to the extent that nearly all previous mentions of the Mull Campus were replaced on the webpages that had been online for years. Read more: Mull school series – how to read every article There were repeated calls for the government to intervene with extra funding, extra allowances or extra time for the council to explore options that islanders were raising repeatedly and passionately, but the government declined to act at every turn. This, Mr Eagle said, was a mistake. But it is 'not too late,' he added. 'I think, in all seriousness, that there is something we can do around this. 'For the whole island to be successful, it was vital all were listened to. And time and time again I was contacted by people across the island that raised concerns about the process of consultation. 'Because ultimately, and this is my own opinion, the financial impact on the council was a much bigger consideration for councillors in Argyll and Bute than what the residents of Mull thought themselves.' Too often, he said, rural and island communities are reduced to a numbers game. This is how it plays out nationally, where these areas will always be dwarfed by larger population centres. But this is also how the decision played out on Mull, where the sheer weight of population repeatedly pushed the conversation towards Tobermory. Decisions like these, Mr Eagle said, require a 'bespoke arrangement,' something that campaigners on Mull and my colleague James McEnaney argued during the course of our coverage. Mr Eagle said the Mull decision 'needed community, government and council to come together' and create a plan that worked for the whole island. Mr Eagle's comments came at the end of a debate that touched on the challenges of connectivity and how Scotland's islands have been underserved in this regard. 'Rural Life is built into our very cultural heritage, with traditions and languages and history baked into our national identity. And rural services delivery does come with a higher cost, but if we want rural areas to thrive, we want our islands to thrive, we must accept that point. 'Education, like on Mull, that relies on ferries and weather and the separation of families, to me, is never a good thing.' He said the project 'necessitated' government involvement, and he called on the government to step in to revisit the decision and fully engage with the community and the council about alternatives. Historically speaking, it seems unlikely that the government will do so but the calls for action remain consistent. Even supporters of the campus in Tobermory recognised that it is not a perfect solution. In fact, the council's own papers admitted that none of the options they put forward would serve every community: 'Under the constraints of the available funding, it is unlikely that either of the campus locations would be able to provide a fully equal solution for all children and young people living on Mull and the islands." That leads to the real question at the heart of this decision and many others that affect life on Scotland's islands: why settle for 'good enough'? If everyone agrees that policy, logistical and financial constraints will usually keep islanders from getting a fair shake, why can't we get creative now and then? You can get in touch with our education writers by email:
