Ireland captain Rory Best urges voters to back Remain

Ireland rugby captain and farmer Rory Best is urging voters in Northern Ireland to vote Remain in the European Union membership referendum.

On Wednesday the Pontyzpass man, whose family has established a pedigree Aberdeen Angus herd at their farm near Gilford, Co Armagh, shared his thoughts on Twitter.

The Ireland and Ulster rugby star wrote: “Thursday 23rd June is an important date for farmers & the agrifood sector. Support them by voting to stay in EU! #Brexit #NoPlanB”

Farmers in Northern Ireland are split on whether remaining part of the EU is in their best interests.

At present around 87 per cent of farmers’ income comes from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and there are concerns Westminster will not continue to support farmers to the same extent if there was a Brexit.

However, many feel the bureaucracy of the EU is damaging to the sector.

NI Stronger In chairman Tom Kelly said: “I welcome the support of Rory Best for the Remain campaign.

He added: “Rory and his family are well known in farming circles in Armagh and throughout Northern Ireland.

“As a hard-working and industrious family they recognise that EU support for agri- business and local farming communities is crucial.

“He rightly also recognises that Leave campaigners have made no convincing argument for leaving the EU.

“Rory is a leader on and off the field but more importantly he is a leader in the field as a working farmer.”

A spokesman for the NI Vote Leave campaign said: “The EU’s Plan A for farmers in Northern Ireland is less and less.

“In the last year alone EU funding (which is really our money) was cut from £300 million to £266 million, more than 10 per cent cut.

“The EU also abandoned the dairy sector during its biggest crisis and cripples small farmers with its regulations.

“The only chance for better is a Vote Leave.”