‘Brexit’ Threatens Subsidies for U.K.’s Landed Gentry, and Queen
- 7 years ago
‘Brexit’ Threatens Subsidies for U.K.’s Landed Gentry, and Queen
In July, Michael Gove, the secretary of state for food, the environment and rural affairs, criticized a European farm subsidy system
that "rewards size of landholding ahead of good environmental practice, and all too often puts resources in the hands of the already wealthy rather than into the common good of our shared natural environment." Decisions have yet to be made, but ministers are studying ways to shift cash from farmers with large estates to those struggling with smaller holdings.
Chris Bryant said that It’s completely indefensible,
What they have in common besides ownership of some of Britain’s finest estates — adorned with stately homes, manicured gardens and,
sometimes, racing stables — is their legal status as farmers, which means they are on the dole for European Union farm subsidies.
The British government has, Mr. Bryant added, "for years argued
that we spend too much on agriculture, and the logical consequence of that would be not to have such high subsidies." Recipients include a cast of the rich and famous, with money finding its way to another prominent member of the royal family via the Duchy of Cornwall, an estate established by Edward III in 1337.
It’s a no-brainer." Some critics counter that cutting subsidies would put British farmers at a disadvantage, vis-à-vis their continental competitors, and
that large landowners may break up their holdings into smaller plots of land to get around curbs on big beneficiaries.
It is all the rich boys in the rich club looking after each other." Brussels has tried several times to limit the maximum amount
that farmers can claim, and individual governments are already entitled to impose curbs on big payments.
In July, Michael Gove, the secretary of state for food, the environment and rural affairs, criticized a European farm subsidy system
that "rewards size of landholding ahead of good environmental practice, and all too often puts resources in the hands of the already wealthy rather than into the common good of our shared natural environment." Decisions have yet to be made, but ministers are studying ways to shift cash from farmers with large estates to those struggling with smaller holdings.
Chris Bryant said that It’s completely indefensible,
What they have in common besides ownership of some of Britain’s finest estates — adorned with stately homes, manicured gardens and,
sometimes, racing stables — is their legal status as farmers, which means they are on the dole for European Union farm subsidies.
The British government has, Mr. Bryant added, "for years argued
that we spend too much on agriculture, and the logical consequence of that would be not to have such high subsidies." Recipients include a cast of the rich and famous, with money finding its way to another prominent member of the royal family via the Duchy of Cornwall, an estate established by Edward III in 1337.
It’s a no-brainer." Some critics counter that cutting subsidies would put British farmers at a disadvantage, vis-à-vis their continental competitors, and
that large landowners may break up their holdings into smaller plots of land to get around curbs on big beneficiaries.
It is all the rich boys in the rich club looking after each other." Brussels has tried several times to limit the maximum amount
that farmers can claim, and individual governments are already entitled to impose curbs on big payments.