A Cumbrian MP said he had intensified his push to win a new devolved farm-funding settlement for the county.
Josh MacAlister, who represents Whitehaven & Workington, said a settlement from Westminster would put decisions in the hands of local people and delivers real support for farmers, rural communities and nature recovery.
He said he had held multiple meetings with ministers in recent months, pressing the case for Cumbria to lead a new model of locally driven funding as part of a pilot being considered by the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
Following the call from local leaders over the summer, a roundtable was held in Cumbria in the autumn, bringing together MPs, farmers, agricultural businesses, nature and conservation charities, to discuss the proposal with officials from the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. It could mean decisions about how to spend tens of millions of pounds a year being made locally.
Mr MacAlister has written again this week to the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, urging the Government to back a Cumbria-led pilot that would simplify support for upland farms and ensure future schemes reflect the realities of Cumbrian landscapes and livelihoods.
Mr MacAlister said: “Our farmers are the backbone of rural Cumbria, and they are facing pressures that national schemes simply aren’t built to handle. I’m fighting to change that.
“A devolved settlement would mean decisions made in Cumbria, by people who understand our land, our heritage and our communities. It would give farmers the certainty and support they need, and it would help us restore nature in a way that strengthens – not undermines – rural life.”
Cumbria has the largest concentration of common land in England and a farming system woven into its UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
However, upland farms have seen incomes fall sharply in recent years while navigating increasingly complex national funding rules.
Mr MacAlister said a devolved model – designed and led in Cumbria – would cut through bureaucracy, align support with local priorities, and accelerate progress on nature recovery, climate resilience and food security.
He added: “In Cumbria we have the leadership, the partnerships and the experience to make this work. From our local councils and national park to farming groups, commoners and conservation organisations – there is real unity behind this.
“My message to ministers has been simple: let Cumbria lead. I will keep making that case until we get the settlement our farmers and communities deserve.”
Gavin Capstick, CEO of the Lake District National Park Authority, said: “A more devolved funding model would allow Cumbria to tailor existing schemes or add bespoke new elements so that they work better for our upland landscapes, our heritage and the communities who sustain them.
“The Lake District is a globally significant place, and the future of its farming and nature depends on decisions being shaped locally.”
Will Rawlings, director of West Lakeland Farmer-Led Nature Recovery CIC, said: “Farmers across Cumbria need funding systems that are simple, practical and tailored to the challenges of upland farming – not one-size-fits-all schemes made hundreds of miles away.
“A devolved approach would put local farmers at the heart of shaping our future, and we hope ministers will hand over the reins so we can seize the opportunity this presents to protect the future of farming in Cumbria.”
Josh confirmed he will continue working closely with local partners and pushing Government to back a Cumbria pilot as part of the upcoming national investment in farming and nature recovery.
Local farmers can sign up to attend Josh’s next Farmers’ Forum at 6pm on Friday January 30 at joshmacalister.uk/meetjosh
