Union says industry is suffering from a raft of body blows and needs more political support
The NFU has urged candidates standing in this week’s local authority and mayoral elections to back British farming over issues such as the family farm tax.
Voters go to the polls on Thursday, with more than 1,600 seats up for grabs at 23 county councils across England. Mayors will also be elected in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Doncaster, North Tyneside, the West of England, Hull and East Yorkshire and Greater Lincolnshire.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “Today’s elections are a timely opportunity to shine a light on some of the huge challenges facing farmers such as the family farm tax and why continued support from local authorities, councillors and regional mayors is so important.”
Bradshaw said the farming industry has “taken a battering” over the past 18 months, with confidence at “rock bottom”. He cited volatile input costs, extreme weather and flooding, increasing rates of rural crime, issues with planning red tape and the recent closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) as all taking their toll, with the inheritance tax changes a further major blow.
“It’s been heartening to see so many county councils stand up for hard-working local farmers and pass motions to back the NFU’s Stop the Family Farm Tax campaign and call on government to reverse its decision on this pernicious policy,” he continued. “Councils from Northumberland to Norfolk have sent strong messages about the vital role farmers play in rural communities up and down the country.
“Farm businesses are the bedrock of the UK’s food and drink sector, the country’s biggest manufacturing sector, contributing £148 billion to the national economy and supporting more than 4 million jobs.
“That’s why we have outlined in the NFU Blueprints the need to invest in our farmers and homegrown food production at both a local and national level to secure UK food security in the future. One of the critical areas is an enabling planning framework that unlocks investment. This will deliver jobs and kickstart rural economic growth by breaking down barriers to opportunity for rural communities.
“The support of local councils and regional mayors for our industry is vital not just on the family farm tax, but also on issues that impact our members such as planning and the procurement of more British food.
“We look forward to working with those newly elected representatives, alongside constituency MPs, to help lay the foundations for a sustainable and profitable future.”
