Farmers Union of Wales president Glyn Roberts has criticised policy makers in the UK and Europe for failing to listen to the concerns of the electorate. He said his predecessor had warned that politicians and civil servants were “sleepwalking towards the breakup of the European Union” two years ago.

Speaking at the union’s AGM on Monday, Glyn Roberts said there needs to be massive policy changes no matter what the outcome of next week’s referendum, in order to protect farming in Wales.

“I make no apology for having repeatedly highlighted the Union’s policy that we should remain within the EU,” he said, and added that Welsh agriculture could only be better off outside the EU if every mainstream UK party made a complete U-turn on key agricultural policies published over the past twenty years. “However, we are anything but EUrophiles or apologists for the EU and all its flaws and failings. Quite the contrary, our criticisms have been consistent.”

He said a vote to remain next week “should certainly not be seen as a seal of approval for either the current EU model or its direction of travel,” but added that recent UK government policy has supported measures which stand to “Decimate Welsh agriculture and leave rural areas facing levels of poverty not seen since the 1930s,” so a U-turn would also be necessary in the event of a vote to leave.

“Whichever way the vote goes next week, we remain dedicated to fighting for the interests of not only our members but our entire rural economy, our environment, and the very heart of Wales’ culture,” the FUW president said.

On Tuesday, an open letter form the Leave campaign, which was signed by Conservative ministers Priti Patel and Michael Gove, Leader of the House of Commons Chris Grayling and former London Mayor Boris Johnson, promised that if Britain ceded from the EU funding for science, culture and farming would be preserved. Prime Minister David Cameron is backing the Remain campaign ahead of next week’s referendum, and so the Leave camp has no real power to make spending promises, but in response to criticism in April Mr Cameron did say farm spending would be “properly maintained” if Britain votes to leave.  

Defra secretary Liz Truss has repeatedly warned that a Brexit vote could heap more costs on farmers, especially those in areas which primarily export to Europe, and EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan, who has taken part in debates on the referendum in the UK in recent months, has said income support for farmers couldn’t be guaranteed outside the EU and pointed out that Wales is a net recipient of EU funds in talks last month.

Farming Online is consucting one last monthly poll ahead of the referendum. Tahe the poll here. Results will be published in a few days.