Ford accuses DUP of ‘breath-taking hypocrisy’ over aid to farmers

Alliance Agriculture spokesperson David Ford MLA has said the DUP are showing “breath-taking hypocrisy” after the Agriculture Minister travelled to Brussels seeking aid for local farmers.

Michelle McIlveen of the DUP, whose party campaigned for Brexit, attended the European Agriculture Council to meet with the European Agriculture Commissioner among others to discuss details of support payments to farmers.

South Antrim MLA Mr Ford said the Minister’s actions merely highlighted the DUP’s hypocrisy around the EU referendum.

“As is a matter of public record, the Minister and her party campaigned for a Leave vote in the recent referendum, despite the benefits farmers in Northern Ireland have had within the EU.

“Alliance laid out before the referendum how Brexit was the biggest threat facing the farming industry here, saying it would be a disaster. The former Prime Minister sought to reduce agricultural support in his negotiations before the referendum, so many livelihoods are already at risk.

“It is nice of the Minister to state the agri-food sector is the backbone of the local economy, however, it might be too late for many farmers, who will look at this breath-taking hypocrisy by the DUP and rightly ask where the support from that party was during the referendum campaign.”

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