WINCHESTER and the Meon Valley’s Liberal Democrat MP Danny Chambers pledged his support to British farmers on the National Farming Union Back British Farmers Day.

Mr Chambers also met with representatives of the National Farmers Union at the Alresford Show last Saturday, September 7, to discuss the challenges facing the sector.

He said: “When I speak to farmers across our communities, they keep telling me how they were taken for granted under the last Conservative Government.

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Mr Chambers at the Alresford Show (Image: Danny Chambers) “I grew up on my family farm, so I know the challenges that farmers face. Now that I am the MP for Winchester, I will stand up for our farmers and rural communities.

"The previous Conservative Government broke their manifesto promise and signed trade deals that undermine our high animal welfare, environmental and farming standards. It’s not only vets and farmers who are proud that the UK has high animal welfare standards, but the British public are proud of this too, and we must not compromise those.

“Whether it’s improving food security or improving mental healthcare in rural areas, the new government has to do the right thing and provide farmers with the fair deal they deserve.

At the General Election, the Liberal Democrats set out their plan to back British farmers including:

  • Accelerating the rollout of the new Environmental Land Management schemes, properly funding it with an extra £1bn a year to support British farmers.
  • Renegotiating the “botched” Australian and New Zealand trade deals and ensure the high animal welfare and environmental standards of British farmers’ standards are not undercut.
  • Negotiating comprehensive veterinary and plant health agreements with the EU, to allow British farmers to trade with our European neighbours with minimal need for checks.