The central belt obsessed SNP’s inability to guarantee vital farm payments for next year is an insult to hard working farmers across Scotland.

Rural Economy and Connectivity Secretary Fergus Ewing said in a recent ministerial statement that 80% loans will be offered because the flawed IT system cannot be trusted to deliver funds on time.

Offers of loans will come as little comfort to farmers who are already facing up to a record level of debt of £2.2billion. On top of that £40million in payments are still outstanding for this year which are now nine months late.

The SNP should spend allot less time holding press conferences on "IndyRef2" and allot more time making sure our farmers get their payments on time.

The SNP have lost the confidence of our farming sector.

Alastair Redman