Welsh Labour candidate 'will chain himself to Westminster rails' if farm support cut

A Welsh Labour candidate has said he will 'chain himself' to the railings of Westminster if farm support payments are cut.

At an election event hosted by Farmers' Union of Wales at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, Labour candidate Dan Lodge said Wales needed special treatment.

"We have got to keep farmers in business because the rural economy is reliant on farming," he said at a debate for the Brecon and Radnor constituency, attended by all candidates.

"The starting point for negotiations should be not a penny less.

"Wales needs special treatment and if that is not forthcoming I would chain myself to the railings of Westminster.

"Every £1 farmers spend in the local economy is worth £7 to the wider community."

'Industry will be harmed'

Liberal Democrat candidate James Gibson-Watt said the government could take the view that there is too much money being paid to too few people to support a small part of the economy.

"If you reduce levels of support, the industry will be harmed."

Mr Gibson-Watt said this month a hard Brexit will impact the rural economy.

"Wales export a huge amount of produce to the continent and there is a very big export market that is now at risk by creating barriers to that trade," he said.

'Business bank'

Plaid Cymru candidate for the area Kate Heneghan said a 'business bank' should be established to help struggling farmers and warned many could go in the next two years.

Conservative Defra secretary Andrea Leadsom recently said it was important to commit to the same level of funding provided by CAP.

She said: "If elected on June 8, Theresa May's Conservatives will commit to the same spending on farming and food production over the next Parliament as is now provided by the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy."