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The Latest Breaking News from Defra

Key statistics in Government report on UK food security

Some 93% of all cereals consumed in the UK last year were produced in the country, compared with 53% of fresh vegetables.

Evening Standard

Farmers set for tractor protest as Government says its support is ‘steadfast’

MPs will hear from farming leaders and the Government will publish a report on food security on Wednesday.

Evening Standard

Toxic pesticides found in food imports spark health concerns among campaigners

While detected residues were mostly below legal limits, Pesticide Action Network expressed concerns of cumulative exposure to toxic chemicals.

Evening Standard

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‘Busybody’ fines up 42% in 2023 in England and Wales, report shows

Majority of 19,162 penalties issued by private enforcement companies contracted by councils

The Guardian - UK

Hill farmers’ finances ‘in jeopardy’ from delays to new farming schemes – report

Nature and climate targets, and efforts to reduce flooding, are also threatened by a lack of support for upland farming businesses, a think tank said.

The Independent UK

Watchdog: Defra may have failed to comply with law over bee-killing pesticide

The Office for Environment Protection is investigating the Government over emergency authorisation of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam.

The Independent UK

Defra cuts pose ‘existential threat’ to England’s most beautiful areas

Exclusive: National landscapes’ chiefs say environment secretary has given no budget assurances and they are to expect cuts

The Guardian - UK

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Wednesday briefing: Why was the UK so poorly prepared for extreme flooding?

In today’s newsletter: Our environment reporter on what went wrong following Storm Bert and whether widespread flooding might make the government to face up to the country’s leaky defences

The Guardian - UK

Water companies in England ‘using loopholes’ to avoid paying for outages

Ofwat CEO says rules must be changed so that customers left without water get compensation automatically

The Guardian - UK

Mapped: The rural Labour MPs most at risk from farmer inheritance tax backlash

The Tories could take advantage of farmers’ anger to regain dozens of seats lost to Labour in rural areas, as inheritance tax changes prompt fury

The Independent UK

No hiding place for Labour’s farming minister as Whitehall teems with tweed and gumboots

Farage cosplayed Mr Toad, Victoria Atkins troubled all fashion sense, but Steve Reed won the turnip for his flailing defence of inheritance tax changes

The Guardian - UK

Farm inheritance tax: farmers cannot go green if they are in the red

In villages across the country, irate farmers have accused the government of trying to end the tradition of the family farm by scrapping agricultural property relief, a measure which previously sheltered farms from having to pay inheritance tax on farmland.

The Conversation

Government accused of ‘hammer blow’ to farmers as thousands protest in London

Farmers flocked to Whitehall to protest against changes to inheritance tax and other measures in last month’s Budget.

The Independent UK

England’s national parks facing financial peril due to budget cuts, say CEOs

Leaders warn cost savings will lead to mass redundancies and that spaces could become ‘paper parks’

The Guardian - UK

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The Independent UK

NFU chief hints farmers could take more extreme action if government ignores inheritance tax protest

More than 10,000 farmers descended on Westminster on Tuesday to urge the government to backtrack on the levy

International Business Times

Farmers Descend On London To Overturn Inheritance Tax Change

British farmers massed in London on Tuesday for protests against controversial government plans to change inheritance tax rules for land ownership, which they claim threatens to break up the sector and hit food production.

Evening Standard

Farming protest ‘definitely’ on after ‘tough’ talks with minister – NFU head

Tom Bradshaw said the demonstrations would leave an ‘indelible mark’ as farmers seek to lobby MPs to stand up against the Government’s plans.

Evening Standard

Farmers set to protest over ‘completely unacceptable’ inheritance tax changes

Government is insisting the introduction of inheritance tax on farm businesses worth more than £1m is ‘fair’ and closes a loophole.

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The Guardian - UK

Red squirrels ‘to vanish from England’ unless vaccine against squirrelpox funded

Conservation group warns species threatened by exploding populations of grey squirrels who carry lethal virus

The Independent UK

Rachel Reeves fightback to woo the City: I’ll ease banking regulations

Chancellor pledges to lift banking regulations to boost growth as she launches fightback against criticism of her Budget

The Guardian - UK

A dream day for Labour as opposition is reduced to noises off

Reeves is untroubled by a financially illiterate Tory leader, while Starmer allows himself a minor celebration

Evening Standard

Government defends farm tax changes as support for protests swells

Farmers are planning a mass lobby of MPs and rally next week in Parliament.

The Guardian - UK

Farm income falls in England after extreme weather and subsidy cuts

Defra data shows lower income for most farm types but small boost from payments for nature-friendly schemes

The Independent UK

Farm incomes plummeted by 50% in a year, official figures reveal as fears grow over ‘tractor tax’

Farm incomes are at their lowest since 2015/16, official figures indicate

The Independent UK

Confusion over how many farms will be hit by controversial tractor tax after ‘staggering’ admission

Critics argue that Defra figures suggest Treasury claims that only 28 per cent of farms will be affected are wrong

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