Many disenchanted farmers are seeking new political homes. Can Labour and the Lib Dems capitalise on this opportunity?
Andrew Watts, a lifelong Conservative voter, has this year decided to vote for the Liberal Democrats in the general election.Andrew Watts, a lifelong Conservative voter, has this year decided to vote for the Liberal Democrats in the general election.
“I think their policies have ignored rural areas, and ignored the importance of food production,” he says. “The performance since Brexit has shown that this government cannot be trusted.” Sensing a fracture in the relationship with the party’s rural base, Sunak has responded with a charm offensive. After a disastrous NFU conference in 2023 – when farmersand would change the culture in government around agriculture, while announcing the “largest-ever grant scheme” for farmers, with £427m given to technology and productivity schemes. The launch of hisBut some think it could be too little, too late.
Other farmers expressed anger at post-Brexit trade deals with Australia and New Zealand, which remove tariffs on beef and lamb. Many livestock farmers fear being undercut by a flood of cheap imports and say they were not listened to during negotiations.
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