'Medway farmers are at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis – we must go further to support them' - say local Lib Dems

In a recent speech, Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) raised concerns over the loss of farmers, connecting the loss with the ability to look after the environment, natural landscapes biodiversity, and the ability to produce food.

Tim Farron, said "We have a Conservative Government hellbent on undermining farmers and driving them out of business - a disaster for food production and also nature. We would need to go on to international markets to buy the food that we do not produce ourselves, which pushes up the costs of food. Protecting our farmers means producing food for us locally and keeping food prices down domestically and abroad. Food insecurity will get worse and it will have an impact on the affordability of food for everybody. This is something that farmers know and, sadly, this is something that consumers will soon discover. It is because of the Government's direct policies."

Alan Wells, Liberal Democrat candidate for Strood Rural said, "We need to protect Medway's farmers, help them produce food, and care for the environment, they go together. It is time politicians spoke up for rural communities who urgently need help and support.

We are determined to campaign for our local the farming industry, buying Medway produce and encouraging others to do the same has always been important to Liberal Democrats. We have always backed British farmers, recently proposing new legislation to protect them from being undercut by deals with countries with lower environmental and animal welfare standards than the UK.

To improve the lives and purses of Medway's farmers and consumers, we are developing policies to improve food and farming, We are looking at the future of farming and fishing, food security and supply chains, food poverty, nutrition and healthy eating, food production and animal welfare. British farmers and food producers are amongst the best in the world and they are ready to deliver high quality, sustainable food produced in harmony with the environment and animal welfare. Yet time and time again this Conservative Government has badly let down farmers and rural communities. This is a pivotal moment for farmers with food security never a more important issue than today.

Our national Liberal Democrats back British farmers campaign:
We would ensure food imports from trade deals meet the UK's high animal welfare and environmental standards. Maintain existing farm payments in full until the new Environmental Land Management scheme is fully rolled out. Enhance and protect the British countryside by supporting the farmers who manage the landscape. Source: Total income from farming for the regions of England - 1st March.

We know that the farming industry is crucial to our local prosperity, that's why we will stand up for Medway's farming communities abandoned and taken for granted by the Conservatives.

ENDS

Notes for Editors and additional text:
Nationally, Liberal Democrats have proposed new legislation to protect British farmers from being undercut by food trade deals that do not meet the UK's environment and animal welfare standards. The plans would require the government's Trade and Agriculture Commission to assess the impact of any new trade deal on UK farmers, and guarantee that MPs had the final say on trade deals initialled by the government. This would include an assessment of the impact of new trade deals on farming communities in each region and nation of the UK.

Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat Leader said: "We want to champion the farming community and animal welfare. The Tories simply don't understand farmers - they have taken them for granted for too long. The Government's trade deals aren't worth the paper they are written on and a betrayal of rural communities. In recent months I have visited farms and rural communities across the country and heard real anger at this Government.

Some farmers even risk losing up to half their entire income as the Government is blundering their way towards a new Environmental Land Management scheme. I am deeply concerned that family farming businesses are at risk as the Tories continue to botch our transition away from the EU agricultural system. Liberal Democrats support this new scheme, but the Tories are being much to slow - they are stubborn and out of touch with farmers. Meanwhile, they're failing to commit to maintaining our high animal welfare and environmental standards for imported foods.

This would allow foreign imports to undercut responsible British farmers. Farmers are the guardians of our landscape, they are the stewards of our countryside and vital allies in tackling the climate and ecological crises. The Liberal Democrats are committed to maintaining the beauty and biodiversity of our countryside which is why we want to ensure public money goes towards public goods like restoring our peat bogs, creating new natural flood protections and managing land to encourage species recovery. But the Tories risk forcing our family farmers out of business meaning we lose the very people who need to deliver these public goods."