Landowners have benefited from a 'tenfold' shift of agriculture subsidies away from real farmers, European Union auditors have warned. Daily Telegraph

The European Court of Auditors refused to sign off the EU’s accounts for the 13th year running. British payments, worth £9.7m in Northern Ireland alone, were given to landowners. Many EU countries also pay landowners direct, which 'did not comply' with EU legislation, the auditors claim.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance claims the system is 'being abused by wealthy individuals'.