Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer has welcomed First Minister Michelle O’Neill raising the issue of long-term farming funding with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The party’s agriculture spokesperson said:

“I welcome that First Minister Michelle O’Neill has raised the issue of the pressing need for long-term farming funding directly with the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

“Since Brexit, our agricultural community has faced significant uncertainty, first with the loss of the EU’s CAP Single Farm Payments, and now with the cutting of the Basic Payment Scheme.

“This payment is a vital lifeline for our agricultural community, particularly small family farms who heavily rely on this support to stay afloat. “Without this, the very survival of rural communities and livelihoods are at risk.

“I will continue to work with the First Minister and Executive ministers to urge the British government to put in place a guaranteed, inflation proof, multi-annual farm budget.”