Burnham Unveils £65m Drought Relief Package Amid Labour Pressure
The government’s response includes a boost to the Sustainable Farming Incentive and temporary grazing allowances, though critics argue the reservoir funding is insufficient and reallocated from existing budgets.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a £65 million funding package to support farmers affected by severe drought and wildfires across Britain. The announcement follows intense pressure from Labour MPs and grassroots members who have criticised the government’s perceived delay in addressing the climate crisis. Burnham, who chaired a Cobra meeting on extreme heat and drought this week, stated that farmers must not bear the risks of the climate crisis alone.
The funding package comprises £50 million directed towards the Sustainable Farming Incentive, bringing the total budget for the scheme to £290 million. This additional injection is prioritised for areas of greatest need. The remaining £15 million is allocated to assist with the construction of on-farm reservoirs, a measure intended to secure water supplies during future dry summers. Officials noted that five existing reservoirs are currently at exceptionally low levels, while support has been announced for nine new reservoirs under development.
In addition to financial support, the government is implementing simplified water access arrangements. Farmers will benefit from changes to the speed at which abstraction licences are granted, allowing for quicker access to water where it is most needed. Temporary allowances have also been introduced, permitting farmers to graze or cut land previously protected for nature without losing payments, addressing immediate shortages of grass.
Burnham visited the scene of a fire in Stourbridge in the West Midlands on Friday and is scheduled to visit a farm in south-west England on Saturday. He described the ability to grow food as a matter of national security, noting that this is the third drought in five years. The Prime Minister highlighted that many farmers have been forced to harvest early, resulting in lower yields and income despite higher costs and no rain in the forecast.
The response has drawn mixed reactions. Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association, welcomed the pragmatic move but described it as little more than a temporary fix. Campaigners and industry representatives have criticised the £15 million reservoir funding as insufficient, noting it is reallocated from existing funds and will only cover a fraction of the needed infrastructure. They argue that the vast bulk of construction costs will continue to fall on farmers, who are already absorbing record costs and new tax burdens.
