51AVÊÓÆµ

Framing SFI closure as a triumph added 'insult to injury', says Efra chair

The Government has pulled the rug out from under farmers across England, according to Alastair Carmichael

Chris Brayford
clock • 4 min read
Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael said: "The decision to close SFI on Tuesday (March 11) without any notice has provoked predictable and justifiable fury, but doing it with a press release that sought to present it as some sort of triumph added insult to injury. It was almost like a return to the glory days of the Soviet Union, when the Politburo would boast about their advances in meeting their targets in the five-year plan for tractor production."
Image:

Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael said: "The decision to close SFI on Tuesday (March 11) without any notice has provoked predictable and justifiable fury, but doing it with a press release that sought to present it as some sort of triumph added insult to injury. It was almost like a return to the glory days of the Soviet Union, when the Politburo would boast about their advances in meeting their targets in the five-year plan for tractor production."

Efra Committee Chair Alastair Carmichael has criticised the tone of language used by Defra to announce its closure of Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) applications for farmers seeking to benefit nature,...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

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

article-img-580x358

Ìý

More on Politics

Chancellor cuts tariffs on 100 food items to ease Iran war burden on consumers

Chancellor cuts tariffs on 100 food items to ease Iran war burden on consumers

Move follows announcement on red diesel and fuel as Gov backs away from supermarket price caps

clock 21 May 2026 • 2 min read
Seeding control of food laws to EU will be 'disastrous' for UK farmers, Shadow minister warns

Seeding control of food laws to EU will be 'disastrous' for UK farmers, Shadow minister warns

Could closer ties on food regulations with Europe be beneficial for UK farm businesses?

Chris Brayford
clock 21 May 2026 • 5 min read
From the editor: Price freezes are no substitute for proper food policy

From the editor: Price freezes are no substitute for proper food policy

This week from the Farmers Guardian editor Katie Jones

Katie Jones
clock 21 May 2026 • 2 min read