Prime Minister reaffirms support for farmers

The Prime Minister Keir Starmer is stating his Government is in fact working for farmers.

It comes after our week-long agriculture special looking at mental health, falling incomes and the proposed inheritance tax

All this week we heard from farmers, Government ministers, accountants and charities on the impact legislation is having on the industry.

The Prime Minister visited Cumbria, to attend a keel-laying ceremony in Barrow-in-Furness to see the first of the Dreadnought class of submarines, which will enter service for the Royal Navy in the early 2030s.

Keir Starmer hailed Barrow as a "blueprint" for the way increasing defence spending can boost prosperity across the UK.

But we decided to bring forward issues that farmers have, our Senior Reporter Joseph Gartly asked the Prime Minister what his stance is.

"We support our farmers"

He said: "We support our farmers, in the budget last year we put £ 5 billion into farming.

"We've also set out a road map in relation to farming which has been broadly welcomed by farmers. So we're rolling up our sleeves and working with farmers and we will continue to do so.

"I want to go further into the procurement because I think that more British food should be used when we're securing large-scale procurements that the governments are able to do. I've long believed in that.

"So as ever a real intention on behalf of the government to work with farmers."

Food security

While this meeting took place it's also been revealed the Secretary of State for the Environment Steve Reed will announce appointments to the Food Strategy Advisory Board, aligning with what the Prime Minister said regarding procurement.

This will be chaired by Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner, ahead of its first meeting later this month.

The board aims to protect food security, improve public health, and deliver an economically resilient food system by including representatives from various sectors such as government, farming, retail and wholesale.