Rural communities face “blow after blow” following Scottish budget

Scottish rural organisations have shared their disappointment after the Holyrood budget was announced, saying that it has left rural businesses “disillusioned”. 

The Scottish Budget for 2025-26, announced on 25 February, includes £660m to support farmers, crofters and the wider rural economy. It also aims to ensure the creation of 11,000ha of woodland across Scotland, and allocates £4.9bn for climate and nature crises, to lower emissions, and protect the environment. However, in real terms these investments represent a 3% budget cut for rural affairs who are the only government department to face reduced spending despite its major contribution to job creation and the Scottish exchequer.

Cameron Gillies, policy and public affairs manager for Scottish Land and Estates said: “There is a growing sense of disillusionment, as rural businesses face blow after blow from both the UK and Scottish governments in consecutive budgets. Despite the warm words from the government about fighting back against the Family Farm Tax, it is clear that rural Scotland remains low on the Scottish Government’s priorities.

Scottish Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary Tim Eagle added that the budget was “extremely bad news” for rural Scotland. He claimed rural communities have been “abandoned” by the SNP over the last 18 years and said the “dire” new budget would have “a huge impact on our farming and fishing sectors which are so crucial for jobs and the wider rural economy.”