FARMERS from across Dumfriesshire attended a local lunch on Friday afternoon when the guest of honour was Shadow Agriculture Minister, Jim Paice MP. The Conservative MP for Cambridgeshire South East was joined by his fellow Shadow Cabinet member David Mundell, who is MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale.

The farmers’ lunch at the Somerton Hotel in Lockerbie saw a large range of agricultural issues discussed. Topics under the spotlight included the significance of the Brian Pack Report; the power of the supermarkets, the future of the CAP and single payments, animal welfare, sheep-tagging and cross-compliance.

During the event Mr Paice welcomed Conservative Party Leader David Cameron’s stance to have a better working relationship with the Scottish Government than currently exists between the Holyrood parliament and the Labour UK government. The UK is the member state in Europe and although agriculture is devolved in Scotland it was essential that there was a good working relationship between the Scottish and UK governments so as both parliaments had confidence in each other when it comes to tackling Brussells issues.

Our picture shows L to R: Shadow Agriculture Minister Jim Paice MP, farmer and local councillor Roger Grant, MP David Mundell and farmer Jeff Stoddart