Farming and countryside leaders are hoping that a change of prime minister will lead to more effective policy that can help farm and rural businesses deliver for the nation.
This follows the announcement by current prime minister Keir Starmer that he will be stepping down as soon as the Labour Party has chosen a new leader.
That looks increasingly like being Andy Burnham, the new MP for Makerfield in the north of England, who has confirmed he will stand to replace Sir Keir.
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Responding to the news, NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the NFU would continue to engage with any new leadership “to ensure British agriculture is well represented”.
“In recent years, economic, geo-political and climate challenges have exposed vulnerabilities in our food and farming sector,” he said.
“If we’re to continue to feed the nation and deliver for the environment, we have to build resilience in home-grown food production.
“As this government has so often said, food security is a critical pillar of our national security.
“What we want to see from the future government is this sentiment underpinned by effective, progressive policymaking which backs British food and farming and recognises its strategic importance for 70m consumers.”
‘Rural reset’
Country Land and Business Association president Gavin Lane also called for a “rural reset”.
“The next leader should seize this opportunity to deliver an ambitious plan for the rural economy.
“One that backs investment, supports businesses and restores confidence across the countryside,” he said.
“That reset cannot happen without reversing the inheritance tax changes hanging over farms and family businesses.
“Only a full reversal will unlock the confidence and investment needed to realise the full potential of the rural economy.”
The Countryside Alliance (CA) said it too hoped for a change of course from any new government.
A spokesman credited Sir Keir of making Labour appear more “relevant” to rural communities in the run up to the 2024 general election, resulting in a record number of Labour MPs from rural constituencies.
“But sadly, shortly after taking office, Sir Keir’s government launched an astonishing attack on the countryside with the implementation of the family farm tax,” said the spokesman.
“The policy has caused untold pain and anxiety for farmers. It was, plainly, bad politics.”
The CA also criticised additional taxes on rural businesses and a range of other “toxic” policies including a ban on trail hunting and a clampdown on game shooting.
‘Missed opportunity’
For tenant farmers, two years of Sir Keir’s administration constitutes a missed opportunity in terms of domestic food security and productive farming.
Tenant Farmers Association chairman Robert Martin said: “Despite sustained lobbying, agricultural property relief reform – the single change most likely to transform the tenanted sector – has not happened,” he said.
“The opportunity was there. The parliamentary majority was there. The change was not.”
Devolved view
Farmer Union of Wales (FUW) president Ian Rickman said that, after six prime ministers in 10 years, farming needed stability and long-term policy certainty.
“While agriculture is largely a devolved matter, the FUW welcomed the prime minister’s recent efforts to better align with EU frameworks to better manage food exports to the EU,” he said.
“However, the fallout over inheritance tax changes reflected a wider pattern of policy missteps and a government that too often appeared to lack any understanding of the practical realities of governing a complex, long-term sector.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative MP Harriet Cross described Sir Keir’s legacy as prime minister as “one who failed businesses and key industries at every opportunity”.
