Andy Burnham has announced £65m (about $83m) of funding to help drought-hit farmers, saying they must not carry the risks of the climate crisis alone, following pressure from Labour MPs and grassroots.
Key facts
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced £65m (about $83m) of funding for drought-hit farmers.
- The package includes better water access and support for building farm reservoirs.
- Burnham said farmers must not carry the risks of the climate crisis alone.
- The move follows a backlash from Labour MPs and grassroots over his climate response.
- Wildfires and drought have affected Britain and its food producers, according to the Guardian.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced £65m (about $83m) of funding to help farmers manage a devastating drought, according to the Guardian. Announcing the measures, Burnham said that farmers must not carry the risks of the climate crisis alone.
The funding package includes measures such as better water access and support for building farm reservoirs, the Guardian reported. The aim is to help food producers cope with the immediate effects of drought conditions.
The announcement comes as the prime minister steps up his response to what the Guardian described as the immediate climate crisis. Britain has been affected by wildfires and a drought impacting food producers.
The move follows a backlash from Burnham’s own MPs and Labour’s grassroots, who argued he had not addressed the climate crisis as a priority. According to the Guardian, Labour MPs said Burnham had taken too long to talk about the climate crisis.
The measures represent an attempt to answer that internal criticism while providing direct support to a sector under strain from extreme weather conditions.
Why it matters
Drought and wildfires are placing real pressure on Britain's food producers, and the funding signals how the government is responding to climate impacts on farming. The announcement also reflects internal Labour tensions over whether the prime minister has treated the climate crisis as a priority.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding did Andy Burnham announce for farmers?
Burnham announced £65m of funding to help drought-hit farmers manage the drought, according to the Guardian.
What does the funding package include?
According to the Guardian, the measures include better water access and support for building farm reservoirs.
Why is Burnham announcing this now?
The Guardian reports the announcement follows a backlash from Labour MPs and grassroots who argued Burnham had taken too long to prioritise the climate crisis, amid wildfires and drought affecting food producers.