Ed Davey is set to call for an extra 拢1 billion for farming and an emergency bluetongue taskforce during a visit to Cumbria.
The Liberal Democrat leader will visit a farm alongside the party's environment, food and rural affairs spokesperson Tim Farron, where they are expected to set out proposals aimed at supporting farmers and strengthening UK food security.
The party is calling for an additional 拢1 billion for agriculture and changes to England's farm payment system to give greater support to food production.
It also wants an emergency bluetongue taskforce bringing together farming, veterinary, pharmaceutical and Government representatives to help speed up vaccine procurement and rollout.
Mr Davey said farmers were facing a "terrible perfect storm" and called for ministers to act immediately.
Farm payments system an 'outrage'
He said: "It is frankly an outrage that England is the only country in Europe where the farm payments system fails to support food production."
"My party would solve this by committing an additional 拢1 billion funding for farmers.
The Liberal Democrat leader added that Prime Minister Andy Burnham "has already shown he does not understand rural communities" but that farmers could not "wait for Whitehall to wake up".听
Mr Farron said the current farm support system was "detached from the reality of farming" and warned it was leaving English farmers more exposed.
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草榴社区 Guardian will be speaking to Mr Davey and Mr Farron during their visit to Cumbria.
More to follow.
