Standing Up for British Farmers

The news that more than 6,000 farming businesses have closed in just one year is deeply worrying, and it’s something we feel keenly here in Newbury and West Berkshire.

In this part of the world, farming plays a central role in both our local economy and our rural communities. It’s not just about putting food on the table: farmers look after our countryside, sustain local jobs, and support the character of our towns and villages.

But right now, British farmers are being let down. A damaging inheritance tax raid is putting huge pressure on family farms, making it harder for the next generation to carry on this vital work. Instead of backing farmers, the Government is hitting them with policies that push them off the land.

We need urgent action to protect the future of British farming. That means reversing this harmful tax change and investing properly in our rural economy. The Liberal Democrats are calling for a £1 billion increase in the farming budget to give our farmers the support they deserve. I’ll keep pressing for real backing for the rural communities that underpin so much of life here in West Berkshire.

I am continuing to listen to local farmers across Newbury and West Berkshire and making sure their voices are heard loud and clear in Westminster. I’ve heard from so many of you about the challenges you're facing, and I’m committed to standing up for you.

Our farmers have always delivered for us, and it’s time the Government delivered for them.