Landowners condemn Tory government for ‘stifling’ rural businesses

Criticism of past 12 years comes as minister admits fresh delay to post-Brexit farm payment schemes

Landowners have told the environment secretary they are running out of patience" with the Conservative government after 12 years of the rural economy being stifled" and delays to nature-friendly farming payment schemes.

At a conference organised by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), the largest rural landowner group in the country, Therese Coffey announced that the review into the new land payments schemes had concluded, but admitted that farmers and other land managers would remain in the dark with regards to detail on payment and standards until next year.