NFU champions British farming at Labour Party Conference
Above: NFU President Tom Bradshaw presenting to MPs and Peers at the Labour Party Conference NFU breakfast event and Tom speaking to Defra Secretary of State Angela Eagle.
Meeting with ministers, MPs and industry leaders at the Labour Party Conference, the NFU made sure the issues affecting farm businesses today were heard loud and clear.
The NFU had a strong presence at this year's Labour Party Conference, ensuring the voice of British farming was heard loud and clear by ministers, MPs and key political stakeholders.
At the NFU's Great British Breakfast, hosted in Liverpool's iconic Liver Building, politicians, policymakers and industry representatives discussed the key issues facing British agriculture.
In a speech to Labour MPs, Defra ministers, party members and farmers, NFU President Tom Bradshaw warned that agriculture could not continue to be divided into SFI “haves” and “have nots” based on how quickly farmers were able to submit an application.
Alongside this, Tom highlighted the ongoing challenges of drought, war in Iran and bluetongue which meant that no sector has escaped the hardest summer for British farming in a generation. As we look ahead to the Budget, he outlined what policies are needed to give farm businesses the confidence, stability and financial strength to keep producing.
Looking forward, he referenced the Prime Minister’s farm visit and how farming is uniquely placed to deliver the commitment to good growth in every postcode. Ultimately, when a farm invests, the benefit is felt by local workers, contractors, processors, vets, hauliers, shops and pubs.
Both the Secretary of State and Farming Minister spent time talking with NFU members at the event about the issues facing their businesses. The NFU’s role in ensuring members get to speak to the very highest levels of politics was once again on full display.
Industry challenges
Following the event, the engagement continued as NFU President Tom Bradshaw attended a roundtable with the Farming Minister and Defra PPS Jayne Kirkham to discuss co-operatives, which was sponsored by Arla and the Cooperative Party.
A panel hosted by the National Office on Animal Health also saw Tom speak alongside Biosecurity Minister Baroness Hayman and Efra Select Committee member Josh Newbury MP on the importance on core standards and disease resilience.
In between events, the NFU met with a number of high-profile Labour politicians including Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, Exchequer Secretary Dan Tomlinson and Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith.
Recognising the challenges in the countryside
The NFU joined up with the Labour Rural Research Group to host an event which saw a strong turnout from both rural Labour MPs, the Defra ministerial team and wider stakeholders.
At the event, Tom reiterated concern around SFI and the need for the Budget to deliver for British farming. In addition, Tom reflected on last year’s Labour Party Conference which took place during the height of the NFU's Stop the Family Farm Tax campaign.
We were once again joined by the Defra Secretary of State who spoke passionately about how “the fight for fair reward for work began in the fields as much as the factories” highlighting that Labour must remember where much of their movement started and recognise the challenges faced by those in the countryside.
The message from Liverpool was clear: British farming stands ready to play its part in delivering good growth in every postcode, but it requires the right support and policy framework to do so.
The NFU will continue to make that case on behalf of its members at Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham and Green Party Conference in Brighton.
