Burnham announces £65m for drought-hit farmers after Labour pressure

PM steps up climate response with measures including better water access and support for building farm reservoirs Farmers must not carry the risks of the climate crisis alone, Andy Burnham has said, as he announced £65m of funding to help them manage the devastating drought. The prime minister is stepping up his response to the immediate climate crisis after facing a backlash from his own MPs and Labour’s grassroots for not addressing the climate crisis despite wildfires tearing through Britain and a drought affecting food producers. Labour MPs argued Burnham had taken too long to talk about the climate crisis and had not made it a priority. Some farmers have had to harvest their crops early, while others are seeing low-quality produce and low yields. Most of the £65m will go to the sustainable farming incentive (SFI), which pays farmers in England to support nature. Officials have said this extra £50m will bring the total SFI budget to £290m, with extra money prioritised for areas of greatest need during the drought. Burnham chaired a Cobra meeting on extreme heat, wildfires and drought this week. Downing Street is seeking to establish a cross-government response to the drou