²ÝÁñÉçÇø

Wendy Chamberlain - North East Fife MP - on Universal Credit: "Because of the system change, someone producing our food, cannot afford to eat. This is just not ok"

The Liberal Democrats MP has spoken about the difficulties farming families face in accessing Universal Credit support and why a change in system has left farmers going hungry

Chris Brayford
clock • 6 min read
Wendy Chamberlain, Scottish Liberal Democrats leader, said: "The very nature of farming means that farming income varies significantly through the year or even over multiple years. Frankly, it shows a failure within the Department for Work and Pensions system to understand how farming works at all. To be blunt, without farmers we do not have food, so we must support them and the farming industry in every way we can."
Image:

Wendy Chamberlain, Scottish Liberal Democrats leader, said: "The very nature of farming means that farming income varies significantly through the year or even over multiple years. Frankly, it shows a failure within the Department for Work and Pensions system to understand how farming works at all. To be blunt, without farmers we do not have food, so we must support them and the farming industry in every way we can."

Universal Credit ²ÝÁñÉçÇø have faced extreme difficulty with the transition to Universal Credit, which is needed to sustain them during off seasons or less profitable months, sometimes years. The fact...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

New to ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358

 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

£±Ê°¿´¡

BNG National Habitat Bank Creation & Unit

£±Ê°¿´¡

WATER ABSTRACTION LICENCES FOR SALE

£±Ê°¿´¡

More on Farm Business

From potatoes and honeyberries to poultry and renewables: Dowell family build resilient farm business

From potatoes and honeyberries to poultry and renewables: Dowell family build resilient farm business

Spreading the risk over more than one venture is helping to mitigate the inevitable peaks and troughs of farming for the Dowell family

Lynsey Clark
clock 25 September 2025 • 7 min read
Food supply chain comes together to demand action on growth

Food supply chain comes together to demand action on growth

Industry calls on newly-appointed Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle to back food produced in Britain

clock 24 September 2025 • 2 min read
Jaguar Land Rover extends production pause after cyber incident

Jaguar Land Rover extends production pause after cyber incident

The carmaker says the pause will last until Wednesday October 1

clock 23 September 2025 • 2 min read