MALVERN’S MP chose to make farming one of the focuses of her visit to the Conservative Party conference last week to express her continued support for the industry locally and nationally.
Dame Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, attended the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) stand at the conference in Birmingham (September 29-October 2) to chat to the organisations president, Tom Bradshaw, about the future of farming policy.
The MP regularly meets with local farmers to hear concerns and has been a strong advocate for food security and the protection of high-quality agricultural land.
More than 5,700 people work in agriculture across Worcestershire and the farming sector is worth £1.5 billion to the local economy.
Dame Harriett says farmers are worried Labour’s upcoming budget ‘will pull the rug from under their feet’ as the government’s manifesto left a lot to be desired in the farming department.
Labour’s manifesto included just 87 words on farming, with farmers seemingly still be in the dark regarding the future of the industry under Sir Keir Starmer’s reign.
Many fear changes to taxation around farming such as the agricultural property relief, the capital gains tax rollover relief and the newly launched Sustainable Farming Incentive.
Dame Harriett said: “It is always useful to catch up with the NFU and talk with Tom Bradshaw. I meet with our local farmers regularly and always speak up for them in the House of Commons.
“During the election campaign, I made clear manifesto commitments about maintaining financial support.
“There was nothing in the Labour party manifesto and with a Budget coming up farmers are worried.
“Support like the sustainable Farming Initiative and land stewardship schemes have helped farmers to bridge the gap in their budgets but nationally Labour have shown no recognition of the challenges farmers face to put food on our tables.
“Farming is a hugely important part of the West Worcestershire economy and I’m backing local farmers and food producers to keep doing their amazing job.”
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been approached for comment.
