Comments made by the First Minister about having to justify spending money on farmers to people in Cardiff have been branded as “disrespectful” and “astonishing” by political opponents.

Mark Drakeford this week urged farmers to “do things that taxpayers are willing to invest in” to keep receiving subsidies and that he would have to justify any spend on farming to “Bangladeshi taxi drivers” in Cardiff.

He told the BBC: “If you wish to take advantage of that money, if you want to have help from the Welsh taxpayer, then you will have to find a way of bringing yourself within the scheme that allows me, as the First Minister, to justify to Bangladeshi taxi drivers in Riverside, where I live, why they should pay their taxes in order to support farmers in Wales.”

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Mid & West Wales Senedd Member Jane Dodds said the comments demonstrated a “lack of understanding” from the First Minister.

“The First Minister’s comments today are disrespectful to the farming community and show a lack of understanding from Welsh Labour of both rural communities and the work farmers do to put food on our plates,” said Ms Dodds.

“Food security is vital to Wales, especially given the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and rising food poverty in Wales.

“Farming is also vital to the Welsh economy, supporting a whole chain of other businesses in the rural economy in particular.”

Welsh Conservative and Shadow Rural Affairs Minister Samuel Kurtz MS said he found it “astonishing’” that the First Minister made the comments on Royal Welsh Show week “to demonstrate a level of disregard for our farming community.”

“Not only is agriculture a pillar of the Welsh economy, it is the lifeblood of communities up and down the country, playing a central role in our culture and preserving the Welsh language,” said Mr Kurst.

“Welsh farmers contribute significantly to Wales’ economy, as the bedrock of our £7 billion food and drink industry as primary producers, and as the cornerstone of the wider rural economy.

“So, when Mark Drakeford said farmers should do something that taxpayers are willing to invest in, I would simply say that without them, our food and drink industry and rural economy would suffer immense damage.

“I have long said farming needs a friend, and it seems Labour are making it very clear it does not want to be that friend. The Welsh Conservatives will always stand by the farmers of Wales.”