Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the recently elected Conservative MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, has sought reassurance for farmers in North Northumberland, over the prospect of the UK voting to leave the European Union in 2017.
Speaking during the farming debate on Monday, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, in her first question in the House of Commons, asked the DEFRA Minister, Rory Stewart, "Can the Minister answer a question asked to me time and again by my farming constituents in North Northumberland over recent months, of which many are upland sheep farmers, which is how would this Government choose to support our farmers if the nation votes to leave the European Union in 2017?"
In response Rory Stewart, who represents Penrith and The Border, said that the Country must continue to provide "deep support for farmers" adding; "It would be dangerous, whether we remain in the European Union or leave it, if we ended up vesting our responsibility in the EU. We must take responsibility ourselves; we must say we believe in the support farmers currently get from Europe, and, whatever happens in the vote, we must continue to provide it".
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, speaking after the debate said; "I welcome the response and reassurance given by Rory Stewart to my question and his expressed commitment to our farmers. I know that a lot of farmers are concerned at the uncertainty over our continued membership of the EU, even though they would welcome being freed from the needless red tape, it is important that this Conservative Government make it clear that we will continue to support and invest in our farming community regardless of the outcome of the referendum and demonstrate that they have nothing to fear".