'Botched' farm payouts could force minister's resignation, says DUP

A funding scheme which left farmers queuing for hours could force the resignation of the North's Agriculture Minister, it was claimed today.

Disgruntled agriculture workers complained of feeling like beggars after camping out up to 48 hours for a limited number of European payouts for business efficiency and animal welfare.

And Stormont Agriculture Committee chair William McCrea called on minister Michelle Gildernew to come before the Assembly to answer serious questions about how the farm modernisation scheme was handled.

The DUP member said: “If this speculation is confirmed and the scheme has not complied with the requirements laid down by Europe then I believe that the minister must be made accountable in front of the Assembly.

“If confirmed then I believe that such a serious mistake has been made that the minister would have no other option than to resign her post.”