Blundering government officials use photos of SLOVENIA in Brexit video

Blundering government officials use photos of SLOVENIA in video hailing future of British farming after Brexit

Michael Gove’s department is promoting its Brexit legislation on agriculture
A video promises an ‘historic moment’ of change and opportunity for farmers
But it uses stock images of farms in Slovenia and Germany, it has emerged

By Tim Sculthorpe, Deputy Political Editor For Mailonline

Published: 12:54 BST, 18 September 2018 | Updated: 12:55 BST, 18 September 2018

Blundering Government officials have promoted the future of Brexit Britain’s farm industry using pictures of Slovenia and Germany, it emerged today.

The embarrassing gaffe was exposed today after the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) published a glossy video about what Brexit means for farms.

Detailing the crucial Agriculture Bill – which sets out what happens after Britain leaves the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy – says it is an ‘historic moment as we leave the EU and move towards a brighter future for farming’.

But in a blow for Environment Secretary Michael Gove, it uses a series of stock images of farming as the video extols the virtues of Brexit,Farming Weekly emerged today.

A pledge suggesting that farmers can expect less red tape after Brexit shows a farmer talking to a farm inspector in a cow shed in Slovenia (pictured)

A pledge suggesting that farmers can expect less red tape after Brexit shows a farmer talking to a farm inspector in a cow shed in Slovenia (pictured)

Another promise stating that UK farmers will be rewarded for improving air and water quality is accompanied by a still from a aerial film shot on a German farm (pictured)

Another promise stating that UK farmers will be rewarded for improving air and water quality is accompanied by a still from a aerial film shot on a German farm (pictured)

Stuart Roberts, vice-president of the National Farmers Union, highlighted the embarrassing gaffe on Twitter (pictured)

Stuart Roberts, vice-president of the National Farmers Union, highlighted the embarrassing gaffe on Twitter (pictured)

Not all of the scenes of misty fields of barley are from the EU – with no mention of this in the Government ad.

A pledge suggesting that farmers can expect less red tape after Brexit shows a farmer talking to a farm inspector in a cow shed in Slovenia.

Another promise stating that UK farmers will be rewarded for improving air and water quality is accompanied by a still from a aerial film shot on a German farm.

The video has been pulled from YouTube since the expose.

Stuart Roberts, vice-president of the National Farmers Union, tweeted: ‘Come on DefraGovUK we have some of the best farms in Europe working to some of the highest standards in the world.

‘If showcasing future UK agriculture policy surely we must use UK farms not German or Slovenian ones.’

A spokesman for Defra said: ‘We have requested that the agency responsible for creating this video replace the relevant images and made it clear we expect higher standards in the future.’

In a blow for Environment Secretary Michael Gove (pictured on the Marr Show on Sunday) the video promoting his Agriculture Bill uses a series of stock images of farming from overseas

In a blow for Environment Secretary Michael Gove (pictured on the Marr Show on Sunday) the video promoting his Agriculture Bill uses a series of stock images of farming from overseas