Local farmers and rural business owners gathered in Tiverton this week for a dedicated roundtable with Shadow Farming & Rural Affairs Minister Robbie Moore MP, aimed at addressing the mounting pressures facing the countryside.
The visit comes after a turbulent twelve months for the sector, during which Mr Moore and the Conservative party have spearheaded the opposition to the government's "Family Farm Tax" (changes to Agricultural Property Relief).
The Shadow Minister used the visit to outline how the party has changed, setting out a clear commitment to return power back to Ministers to protect farmers and rural businesses from quangos, and to put productivity and profitability back at the heart of the next government.
The visit, organised by local farmer and campaigner James Wright, sought to bring Westminster attention directly to the farmyard. The discussions focused heavily on the financial strain caused by the "Family Farm Tax" and broader concerns regarding the impact of current government policies on rural traditions and ways of life.
James Wright emphasised the need for politicians to step out of London and see the reality on the ground.
“Robbie has worked incredibly hard with partners from across the industry to secure partial U-turns on the Family Farm Tax,” said Mr Wright. “We need now to look to the future. There is no countryside without productive and profitable family businesses & farms, and putting that agenda back at the heart of Conservative policy-making is an important step.”
The meeting provided an opportunity for local stakeholders to voice their frustrations regarding regulation and the economic outlook for the year ahead.
Exmoor farmer Roger Foxwell, who attended the session, praised the direct engagement but questioned the absence of other political representatives.
“It is good to listen to Robbie who knows what he is talking about,” said Mr Foxwell. “It is a time of crisis in farming, where are the Liberal Democrat and Reform farming voices visiting Tiverton and Minehead?”
James finished ,“The visit was well attended, it is clear that Tiverton and Minehead’s rural businesses are ready to innovate and grow, but they need a government that backs them. The work to restore that trust and secure a profitable future starts now.”
