Reform UK Farming Adviser's Controversial Proposal to Double Wheat Prices
Nigel Farage's farming adviser, Clive Bailye, has called for a doubling of wheat prices through trade policy, a move that critics warn could exacerbate the ongoing cost-of-living crisis by increasing food costs for consumers. Bailye, an arable farmer and campaigner who owns The Farming Forum website, was appointed as a farming and land use adviser for Reform UK and has been instrumental in drafting the party's agricultural policy for its upcoming general election manifesto.
Policy Development and Farmer-Led Initiatives
Bailye stated that he has been collaborating with James Orr, Reform's policy chief, to shape the party's farming agenda. In a post on his forum, he claimed "significant influence and input" into Reform's agricultural policies, expressing strong approval of the draft proposals. One key suggestion he made involves leveraging trade policy to hike wheat prices overnight, arguing that political will is all that is needed to fix British agriculture. He wrote, "Trade policy could double wheat price over night, job done! It's really not hard."
Context of Rising Food Prices and Geopolitical Tensions
This proposal comes at a time when food prices have surged dramatically, with a 38.6% increase in the UK between November 2020 and November 2025, driven by inflation from the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The situation is further complicated by the war in Iran, which is spiking fertiliser costs, adding pressure to agricultural inputs. Campaigner Guy Shrubsole criticized the idea, noting its potential to worsen the cost-of-living crisis and highlighting other Reform policies, such as importing chlorinated chicken and slashing nature protections, as detrimental to the countryside.
Reform UK's Rural Outreach and Internal Dynamics
Reform UK has been actively courting the rural vote, with Farage frequently appearing at farming protests. The party's efforts follow Labour's decline in countryside support due to policies like inheritance tax for farmers and reduced subsidies. Bailye, who owns a 750-acre farm in Staffordshire, emphasized that farmers are leading the development of Reform's rural policy, with economists and lawyers ensuring feasibility. He previously organized a "milling wheat strike" in 2025 to protest tax rises.
Political Reactions and Party Stance
Tim Farron MP, the Liberal Democrats' environment spokesperson, condemned the proposal, arguing it would raise feed costs for livestock farmers and trigger retaliatory tariffs that could harm British exports. In response, a Reform UK spokesperson confirmed Bailye's involvement but clarified that the party does not support policies to increase consumer food prices. They blamed Labour for undermining farmers through taxes and criticized past trade policies for damaging food security. The spokesperson added that policy is developed collectively under Orr's direction, with no single external contributor setting the agenda.
