AN amendment to the Agriculture Bill has been tabled by MPs to support upland farming post-Brexit.

The Countryside Alliance worked with a cross party group of MPs last month to help table the amendment, which would allow upland communities to receive government funding for their contribution to maintaining and improving upland landscapes, which MPs argued was a public good.

Labour MP Helen Goodman was one of the MPs involved, and was keen to support the 400 sheep and upland farmers who live in her constituency of Bishop Auckland. The amendment also has the support of Conservative minister, Sir Nicholas Soames MP, and former Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron MP.

Helen Goodman said: “Upland farmers face a unique set of challenges as we leave the EU. It is vital that the public good they provide is recognised in the Agriculture Bill so that they are properly supported in any new policies.

“Upland landscapes, such as those in Teesdale, are fragile environments where farming is extremely marginal. This type of farming needs specific policies to ensure these landscapes and the communities they support can survive.”

“A switch to payment for public goods is fine in theory, but it will only be fine in practice if the amount of money paid is sufficient to keep farmers in business.”

Countryside Alliance Political Relations Manager, James Somerville-Meikle, commented: “This is a hugely important amendment and we hope the Government will consider it when the Bill returns to the Commons. The fact that it has the support of so many MPs from different parties shows that supporting upland landscapes and communities is a cross-party issue. The current EU Common Agricultural Policy includes specific payments for moorland and disadvantaged areas and this must continue to be possible outside the EU.”

No date has currently been set for the amendment to be considered in the House of Commons.