Concerns are mounting that farmers' struggles are not being taken seriously after Gloucestershire County Council deferred vital proposals aimed at providing mental health support and opposing punitive tax changes affecting the agricultural community.
On November 12, Conservative County Councillor Dom Morris from Fairford and Lechlade-on-Thames put forward a motion urging Shire Hall to write to the secretary of state and local MPs, expressing strong opposition to tax policies negatively impacting farmers. The proposal also called on council leaders to meet with agricultural representatives to explore better support strategies for rural communities.
Councillor Morris highlighted the extreme challenges faced by farmers, including the wettest autumn and winter on record, followed by an unprecedented dry summer. Market prices for crops remain alarmingly low—sometimes below the cost of production—while costs for machinery, labor, and business operations continue to climb. Added to these pressures is what he termed the “1984 state” level of government control, dictating what farmers can grow and how, with regulation reaching an extraordinary level of detail.
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“This country cannot afford to keep breaking up family farms,” Morris said. “If these estates disappear, so too will the capacity to manage land and produce food sustainably.”
In response to the mental health toll on farmers, Councillor Stuart Graham (Conservative, Mitcheldean) proposed an amendment urging the council to collaborate with NHS services, farming charities, and mental health organizations to create tailored support for Gloucestershire’s farming community.
However, instead of taking immediate action, Liberal Democrat Councillor Colin Hay (All Saints and Oakley) suggested referring the issue to the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee to establish a working group that could take months to produce recommendations. This motion, supported by Council Leader Lisa Spivey (LD, South Cerney), was approved by a council vote of 27 to 15.
Councillor Morris voiced strong opposition to the delay, accusing the council of turning a simple, urgent issue into a “bureaucratic joke.” He criticized the inclusion of environmental amendments he felt sidelined food production and accused some Liberal Democrats of being out of touch with the rural farming community.
“The reality is farmers cannot afford to wait,” Morris asserted. “This bureaucratic kick into the long grass risks losing the very farmers we rely on to manage our land and food supply.”
Despite widespread acknowledgment during the debate of the hardships farmers face, Gloucestershire County Council has opted for a lengthy scrutiny process rather than immediate lobbying or support measures, leaving many agriculture stakeholders frustrated and uncertain about the future.