"A Final Nail in the Coffin": East Riding Liberal Democrats Demand Action as Batters Review Exposes Local Farming Crisis.

The publication of Baroness Minette Batters’ Farm Profitability Review has sent shockwaves through the East Riding, a region where agriculture isn't just an industry, but the very backbone of our community.

​The East Riding Liberal Democrats have branded the findings a "devastating" indictment of the government’s impact on rural Yorkshire. We accuse ministers of attempting to "sneak out" the report on the final day of the parliamentary term to avoid scrutiny from the thousands of families across our Wolds and coastal plains who depend on the land.

​The Heart of British Agriculture Under Threat

​In the East Riding, the stakes could not be higher. Agriculture defines our landscape and our economy:

-​A Productive Powerhouse: Over 90% of East Riding land is dedicated to agriculture, significantly higher than the national average.  

-​Leading the Way: Our region is home to some of the most fertile soil in the country; -Defra figures confirm that Yorkshire and the Humber maintains an average farm size of 91 hectares—larger than the English average of 87.

-​Livestock & Arable Leaders: Our region accounts for 40% of the English pig population. We also produce 14% of the nation’s wheat and 15% of its barley.  

​Despite this, the average Farm Business Income has plummeted. The Liberal Democrats argue that "Partnership Boards" are no substitute for the urgent policy reversals needed to save our local farms.

 

​Tim Farron MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, warned that current tax policies are threatening the very existence of East Riding agriculture.  

​Alistair Carmichael MP, Co-Chair of the EFRA Select Committee, echoed these concerns, noting that the government's approach ignores the reality of food security. He has called for a "sensible debate" to protect family farms from being "collateral damage."

 

​The Local Perspective: "A Tax on the Ability to Earn a Living"

​The crisis was highlighted at a recent meeting of the East Riding Rural Partnership at Bishop Burton College. 

​“It is very clear that our farmers are having a desperately hard time. The loss of the EU Basic Payment Scheme exposes them to competition from global markets with lower costs and lower standards... Now, the Inheritance Tax is a tax on their ability to earn a living."

​"Does it help at all that the Minister of Food Security and Rural Affairs represents the green fields and broad acres of Wallasey? I remain to be convinced. That is why the Government must wake up and pay heed to the 57 recommendations in the recent report they commissioned from Dame Minette Batters. Dame Minette has consulted widely to produce this report, but is also from a farming background and understands whe dire situation our farmers are in." Cllr Jeremy Wilcock 

​A Comprehensive Plan for East Riding Recovery

​We are calling for the government to immediately implement the review's 57 recommendations, tailored to the needs of our local producers:

-​Supply Chain Fairness: Strengthening the Groceries Code Adjudicator to protect our pig and arable farmers from being squeezed by retailers.  

-​Water & Infrastructure: Modernising planning for on-farm reservoirs—crucial for the East Riding, where 34% of farmed land is rented, making long-term investment difficult without government support.  

-​Climate Resilience: A £1 billion boost to the agricultural budget to support sustainable farming and protect our soil against climate extremes.

​The Liberal Democrat Alternative

​Our message to the farmers of the East Riding is clear: we hear you. We are committed to a full U-turn on the family farm tax and providing the financialf stability our rural economy deserves. It is time for a government that treats the East Riding’s farmers as partners, not as a source of tax revenue.