WITH the General Election coming up, it is important to understand what each of the main parties are focusing on when it comes to food and farming. So we took a look at their manifestos and spoke to some south west MP candidates from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour parties. 

LABOUR 

Their manifesto states they will: 

  • Champion farming while protecting the environment 
  • Set a target for half of all food purchased to be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards
  • Introduce a land-use framework and make ELM schemes work for farmers and nature 
  • Work with farmers and scientists to eradicate Bovine TB, so they can end the 'ineffective' badger cull 

Joe Joseph, labour and co-operative parliamentary candidate for Wells and Mendip Hills, said: "As a shepherd and former agricultural college lecturer, I'm proud of Labour's strong offer for farmers. Food security is at the top of our agenda. We will harness the power of the state and ensure that at least half the food procured by the public sector comes from local or environmentally certified sources.

"We have clear plans to tackle some of the many issues that farmers face on a daily basis, including flooding, Bovine TB, rural crime, and rising energy costs. We will ensure a fairer deal for tenant farmers and make ELMs work. We will renegotiate a veterinary agreement with Europe, restoring market access and cutting red tape. We aim to double the size of the co-operative sector, enhancing economic resilience in agriculture.

"Our Co-operative Rural Policy Commission has also addressed wider issues that rural communities face, including health, transport, infrastructure, workforce pressures, nature and the environment.

"Labour, with the Co-operative Party, is now the natural party of rural communities. On the 4th of July, the choice is clear."

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT 

Their manifesto states they will: 

  • Ensure farmers recieve advice about how to transition to new farm payment schemes and introduce a Research and Innovation Fund to support new technologies in the sector
  • Support farmers to reduce pollution 
  • Renegotiate the Australia and New Zealand Trade agreements
  • Introduce a plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance in farm animals and develop safe, effective and humane ways of controlling Bovine TB

Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat candidate for Glastonbury and Somerton, said: "British farmers are the best in the business, yet every year we’re expecting them to do more for less, from reducing flooding to reversing the decline in our biodiversity and tackling climate change. On top of that, the Conservatives have saddled farmers with staff shortages and botched trade deals that have undermined British farmers' high standards. Farmers have been taken for granted for far too long.

"The Liberal Democrats will always stand up for farmers, rural communities and our countryside. We have a bold plan to deliver the change British farmers deserve, starting with increasing the farming budget by £1 billion a year and accelerating the rollout of Environmental Land Management schemes to support profitable, sustainable farming. We'd also ensure future trade deals meet high health, environmental and animal welfare standards so British farmers aren't undercut.

"Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote for a local champion who will fight for rural communities and give farmers the fair deal they deserve."

CONSERVATIVE 

Their manifesto states that they will: 

  • Increase the farming budget by £1billion over the Parliament 
  • Introduce a new £20m Farming Innovation Fund 
  • Reform the planning system to deliver fast track permissions for the building of infrastructure on farms
  • Introduce a legally binding target to enhance food security 

Selaine Saxby, Conservative Candidate for North Devon, said: “I represented North Devon, one of England’s most rural constituencies and I’m standing again so I can carry on backing British farmers. Farming has been and is still going through a difficult time. The pandemic and Ukraine have reminded us, amongst many other things, that we are very reliant on home grown produce.

“We must continue to back and support our local farmers and as one of the NFU’s farming champions, and a patron of the Conservative Rural Forum, I regularly liaise between our farming communities and policymakers of all parties.

“Labour’s manifesto only includes 87 words about farming, showing their complete lack of commitment to the countryside. Voting Lib Dem or for Reform is a vote for Labour's neglect. We need real support for rural Britain, which is something only the Conservatives will provide.

“We've committed to an extra £1 billion across the parliament in farm payments, fast-tracking farm infrastructure through the planning process and cutting the National Insurance tax, leaving more money in rural worker's pockets.

“Only a vote for the Conservatives on the 4th of July will keep Labour at bay so that I can carry on protecting our countryside, our way of life and rural families.”