NFU says staying in the EU is in 'the interests of farmers'

The Remain campaign has received a boost after the National Farmers Union (NFU) decided that staying in the European Union would be in the best interests of British farmers.

Farming, one of the UK's leading industries, is also one of the most heavily influenced by the EU, receiving between £2.5bn and £3bn in subsidies a year.

However, EU regulations have led to frustrations for some farmers and the NFU had previously remained neutral.

After a meeting of its national council, the union said that, while it would not campaign for either side or advise its members how to vote, it had resolved that “on the balance of existing evidence available to us at present, the interests of farmers are best served by our continuing membership of the European Union".

It came as a committee of MPs concluded that EU membership had also been beneficial for Britain’s environment and biodiversity, guaranteeing cleaner beaches and a stronger say over global issues such as climate change.

The Environment Audit Committee’s (EAC) inquiry did not hear from a single expert who made “an environmental case” for leaving the EU, its report said.

Instead, the committee concluded that EU membership had helped drive through environmental laws that had guaranteed cleaner beaches, protected British animal and bird life and allowed MPs to hold the Government to account on air pollution.

The findings were backed by Stanley Johnson, the environmentalist and former MEP, and father of Leave campaign figurehead Boris Johnson.

Stanley Johnson said the EU had been a “champion” of the environmental movement and the fight against climate change.

“It has one of the most advanced legislative frameworks to protect nature and as a result Britain’s environment is benefitting,” he said.

“Leaving puts all of that at risk. It threatens our air and water quality, risks removing safeguards against natural habitats, impacts our ability to reduce our carbon footprint and much more."

Mary Creagh, chair of the EAC committee, said the EU had been instrumental in reforming British practices since it was dubbed “the dirty man of Europe” in the 1970s.

“EU environmental laws have played a key part, and mean we bathe on cleaner beaches, drive more fuel-efficient cars and can hold Government to account on air pollution,” she said.

“Environmental problems don’t respect borders. When it comes to protecting our natural environment and dealing with global problems like climate change, the overwhelming evidence is that EU membership has improved the UK’s approach to the environment and ensured that the UK’s environment has been better protected.”

Responding the report, the farming minister George Eustice, who is backing the Leave campaign, said: "Our natural environment is rich in diversity but is also complex. Imposing centralised policies through clunky EU directives has failed because these act as a straitjacket that stifles innovation in environmental management.

“The UK has also lost its voice and voting rights on many international wildlife conventions. If we Vote Leave and take control, we will regain our seat at the table at these conventions. We would be able to innovate, to pilot ideas and to really deliver for our natural environment.”