Liberal Democrat MP Warns of “Triple Blow” to UK Farmers from Government Policy

Tom Gordon has accused the Government of betraying British farmers through a new trade agreement with the United States, while also cutting vital DEFRA funding and implementing the so-called "family farm tax"—a combination he described as a “triple blow.”

The new deal will eliminate a 20% tariff on American beef and increase the import quota to 13,000 tonnes. Government ministers have stated that any imported US beef must comply with UK food safety standards. Nevertheless, there are ongoing concerns regarding how this beef will be labelled and the potential negative impact it could have on the value and quality of British agricultural products.

This agreement comes at a particularly difficult time for farmers in North Yorkshire, who are already facing challenges due to the Government’s sudden cancellation of the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme in March and the anticipated rollout of the family farm tax. The Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to abandon this controversial tax and instead commit to an annual investment of £1 billion to support the agricultural sector.

Alongside these changes, deeper cuts to DEFRA’s agricultural support initiatives and a faster reduction in basic payments have pushed many farmers into a state of financial instability and uncertainty.

DEFRA’s overall budget is set to shrink by £355 million by 2028–29, following a Spending Review that confirmed an annual real-terms reduction of 2.3% starting in 2025–26. Agricultural funding will experience a real terms drop of £100 million. This follows a £358 million underspend in the agriculture budget over the past three years – money that should have gone to farmers, who now face a 76% cut in direct payments under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) this year.

Commenting, Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:

“Farmers in the UK are being hit by a triple blow from this Government. They're being stripped of protection against mass-produced US beef, contending with DEFRA funding reductions, and burdened by the unfair family farm tax.

“This trade deal gives Trump a green light to flood our markets, jeopardising the future of local farms. Liberal Democrats in North Yorkshire are committed to standing up for our farmers, our food standards, and our rural communities.”

ENDS