Welsh farmers got 'worse deal from UK government before joining the EU'

Leave’s promises can’t be trusted, Plaid Cymru's Simon Thomas warns
Leave’s promises can’t be trusted, Plaid Cymru's Simon Thomas warns

Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet for Rural Affairs Simon Thomas has warned that Welsh farmers got a worse deal from the UK before joining the EU, and would be likely to get a raw deal again if Wales votes to leave the European Union.

Plaid Cymru has found that before Wales joined the European Union in 1972 farmers in Wales did not receive enough to sustain their businesses.

A report measuring regional variation in farm support found that before Britain joined the EU "that hill farm subsidies were not sufficient to compensate for the disadvantage Welsh agriculture experienced from its smaller average farm size."

Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet Minister for Energy, Climate Change and Rural Affairs Simon Thomas said: "The figures show clearly that Welsh farmers are better off in the European Union.

"Before joining the European Economic Community, the level of funding Welsh farmers received from the UK Government was significantly less than it is now, and was not enough to sustain many Welsh farms.

"Leaving the EU will mean that the funding Welsh farms currently receive will come to an end, and we can be certain that a right wing government in Westminster that is intent on pursuing an austerity agenda will not protect it.

"Welsh farmers can be certain that a Leave vote will lead to a cut in their funding.

"The only way to ensure that Welsh farms continue to get their fair share of funding is to vote to Remain in the EU tomorrow."