The Conservatives say they are committing today to protect funding for British farmers, which they say will enable them to take full advantage of the opportunities of Brexit.

A Conservative majority government say they would match the current annual budget available to farmers in every year of the next Parliament. This funding, they say, will support farmers as they move away from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.

In England, the CAP will be replaced by new schemes to support farmers in their work to care for the environment, improve animal welfare, and provide other 'public goods'. Improvements in productivity and overall sustainability will also be rewarded, say the Conservatives, with a seven-year transition helping ensure farmers have time to plan and adjust. Policies for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be set by the Devolved Administrations.

Ministers are also announcing the Conservatives will use the opportunity of leaving the EU to encourage the public sector to “Buy British”, in recognition of the quality of British food and in order to reduce our carbon footprint.

Theresa Villiers, secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, said: “Brexit provides a huge opportunity to transform British farming. By leaving the discredited Common Agricultural Policy, we can help British farmers become more productive at the same time as improving our natural environment.

“I am delighted to announce that a Conservative majority government would guarantee to match the current annual budget available to farmers in every year of the next Parliament. This gives farmers across the UK the reassurance they need to plan for the future.

“It’s only by getting Brexit done that we can create a bright new future for farming.

“Our new Environmental Land Management system to replace the CAP is a flagship environmental reform which will be crucial in our efforts to reverse the decline of nature and biodiversity and achieving our long term goal to ensure this is the first generation to hand on the natural environment in a better condition than we inherited it."

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