The NFU hosted an engaging fringe event at the Labour Party Conference with Labour Coast and Country, a campaign group that seeks to promote Labour policies that support people living in rural areas.
The panel consisted of NFU President Tom Bradshaw and four rural Labour MPs; Jessica Asato (Lowestoft), Sean Woodcock (Banbury), Jane Kirkham (Truro and Falmouth) and Maya Ellis (Ribble Valley), and was chaired by Labour Coast and Country’s co-founder Hywel Lloyd.
The event opened with a statement that not enough farmers know someone in the Labour Party and not enough people in the Labour Party know a farmer; the audience was challenged to get to know each other in the room and come up with questions for the panel which reflected the key issues facing rural Britain.
Food resilience
There were strong calls from the audience for the government to have a food resilience strategy to tackle global impacts such as climate change and the current geopolitical situation, as successive governments have taken this for granted. NFU President Tom Bradshaw stressed the vital need for a thriving domestic food system, calling on the government to prioritise this.
All agreed that family farms are crucial to food resilience and in their roles within their communities with each MP reflecting on instances when farmers have cleared fallen trees, been the first responder at times of flooding and handled local emergencies.
Key takeaways
Banbury MP Sean Woodcock highlighted to all politicians the need to do things with the people and not to the people, placing emphasis on how this is critical for farming – working with the industry, not doing things ‘to farming’.
Proposed inheritance tax changes are an example of where this more collaborative approach is necessary.
The Labour Rural Research group is feeding into government policy. The need for improved rural infrastructure, including greater transport connectivity, plus housing and rural policing are all high priority areas.
The MPs all agreed that there is a will among Labour MPs to make things work and a hope that the government can deliver on the promised changes. There was a strong call for all NFU members to reach out to their local Labour MP and work together.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw rounded up the event, highlighting the need to stimulate investment, the importance of a level playing field within trade agreements and core standards, given there is no easy fix for farming profitability.
