The NFU has set out five key policy challenges for prospective parliamentary candidates to adopt to Back British Farming ahead of the General Election.
Launched on Monday, the NFU’s manifesto is focused on five key areas:
- Making Brexit a success;
- Investing for growth;
- Safeguarding short, fair, and secure supply chains;
- Placing science at the heart of policy making and;
- Caring for our countryside and rural communities.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “The General Election in June provides an opportunity for the farming sector to impress on candidates of all colours the critical value of British farming to our economy, to our wellbeing and to our environment.
“The success of British farming matters to the British electorate – especially at this time of unprecedented change. Indeed, YouGov polling commissioned by the NFU this year shows that 85% of people think it is important that Britain has a productive and resilient farming industry.
“We can’t ignore that farming is arguably the most vulnerable sector in the Brexit negotiations. But the NFU has its sights fixed on solutions and policies to ensure a productive, profitable and progressive farming sector that puts safe, trusted, affordable and quality food on shoppers’ plates. Over the next parliament, we want to work in partnership with the new Government to achieve this with a predictable and manageable transition process.
“And while Brexit is one of the newer challenges for the sector, we’re still committed to gaining political traction on the issues that existed in the industry before 23 June 2016, and still exist now. The nation needs a food and farming industry with a Government strategy, it needs a safe food chain, and it needs a Government which looks after the countryside and rural communities.
“In our manifesto, we are setting out five key policy challenges. The British food and farming sector, working alongside Government, must address these points in the next Parliament.”