Council condemned for failing to support FMD claim

The ruling Lib Dem/Conservative administration on Aberdeenshire Council has been roundly condemned for failing to support NFU Scotland and the Scottish Government in their fight for compensation from DEFRA.

NFUS is preparing a legal case in support of the compensation claim. SNP councillors today (Thursday) proposed a Motion supporting the recent announcement of £25 million in aid for affected farmers from the Scottish Government and requested that the council write to DEFRA backing calls for that money to be refunded by the Treasury. Compensation funding was provided by Westminster during the 2001 outbreak but has not been forthcoming so far.

However, in spite of a similar Motion being supported across the parties in Moray Council in November, Aberdeenshire Conservatives and Liberal Democrats united to propose that no action be taken on the matter, defeating the Motion by 36 votes to 24.

Commenting after the meeting, Councillor Sandy Duncan (SNP-Turriff & District), who is also a farmer, said:

"I find it quite incredible that anyone would seek to oppose such a common-sense plea. It was made quite clear that there is wide support for this move within the farming community and indeed within NFU Scotland who are doing excellent work campaigning on this issue.

"This sends out entirely the wrong message to the farming community and I am deeply disappointed that both the Liberals and Conservatives – who also represent rural communities – have taken this stance."

SNP Group Leader Councillor Joanna Strathdee (Huntly, Strathbogie & Howe of Alford) added:

"This is yet more proof that the Lib Dems and Tories cannot see their way to supporting Scottish farmers in their time of need.

"This is another huge error of judgement on the part of the council's Lib Dem/Tory administration just when we had hoped they were getting their act together in the aftermath of the Trump debacle."