THE Prime Minister visited a farm in north Devon this afternoon (Tuesday, June 18) as part of a campaign visit. 

Rishi Sunak and Lord David Cameron visited a farm where they fed sheep, and took part in a Q and A session with farmers. 

However, the sheep weren't keen to be fed by the Prime Minister, as the flock ran to the other side of the pen. 

“They don’t want to play ball,” a farmer accompanying Mr Sunak said.

During the Q and A session, Mr Sunak said it has been “a real privilege” to understand the contribution farmers make to society.

He was introduced by Mr Cameron, who warned the Liberal Democrats would bring more “wokery” to politics.

“Now, I grew up in Southampton, and I didn’t come from a farming background," he added.

"So it’s been a real privilege to understand the contribution that you make to our society.”

During the Q and A, south west farmers discussed farming schemes, environmental issues and national parks (such as Dartmoor). 

Mr Sunak said that badger culls 'have to be part of the solution' to help prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis. 

“The success of the badger culls where we’ve done them have brought the incidence rates down by just over 50%, so that shows that that plan is working," he added. 

“I believe in the science. And yes, of course a vaccine is good and we’re investing in research and development but that is going to take some time. So culls have to be part of the solution.

(Image: Newsquest)

“And particularly when it comes to badgers, when you look around the world, there’s no country that I think I know of where they’ve eliminated TB in cattle without eliminating it in, whether it’s possums or badgers or the equivalent wildlife, which is why I think culls are important.”

However, Rishi Sunak’s courting of farmers is “too little too late”, the Liberal Democrats have said.

The party’s rural affairs spokesperson Tim Farron said: “This Devon dash is too little too late for Rishi Sunak. Farmers and rural voters are deserting him in massive numbers.

“Farmers have been utterly taken for granted by the Conservative Party, left to cope with sky-high bills, bungled policies and botched overseas trade deals.

“Liberal Democrats will stand up for people in rural areas and give them the fair deal they badly need through a £1bn rural rescue package. It’s clear that people are moving away from the Conservatives and backing the Liberal Democrats in many seats to kick them out of office.”