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Agnew rebuts Spellman on subsidies

Thursday, 6th January 2011

UKIP MEP Stuart Agnew has hit back at claims from Environment Minister Caroline Spelman that farming subsidies were "morally wrong".

Ms Spelman told a farming conference in Oxford this week: "The Common Agricultural Policy continues to distort trade by maintaining high EU prices. This gives rise to high import tariffs and the use of export subsidies to clear market surpluses – all of which undercuts production in developing countries. This is morally wrong.

But Mr Agnew said: "Taxpayer support of farming businesses is not immoral.

"It allows farmers to sell their produce at a lower price to those on low incomes who pay very little tax.

"The immorality lies in the EU system of payments that benefits non-farming landowners. It is crucial that UK farmers are able to invest with confidence to create the food security that is essential to such a densely populated island. A very heavy reliance on imports is a gift to terrorists."

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