Political parties unveil General Election manifestos but what do they offer farming?

It is the third week of the General Election campaign and political parties have now published their manifestos. The Farmers Guardian news and business  team take a closer look at the parties pledges for farming and rural communities. We look at budget, bovine TB policy, planning reform, food and the environment, and what the opinion polls look like at the half way stage.

Transcript

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Trust me. Hello and welcome to the Farmers Guardian podcast. I'm Rachael Brown. I'm Alex Black and I'm Jane Vine. And this week we of course, are delving deep into the general election manifestos. It's been a big week for the Farmers Guardian. We are celebrating this year all 180 anniversary. It's been a big, big week also because of our relaunch. So if you haven't got a copy of The Farmer's Guardian, go and get one. But obviously this podcast is about this week in politics. Obviously, we're going into the third week of the general election campaign, and we all know political parties try to sway votes through various ways, through the TV debates, through TV interviews, but also three manifestos. And this week is the week that manifestos have been published. And here in the Farmers Guardian, we've been doing an analysis of of what each party's pledges are and what commitments they have for British agriculture. Yeah. So Labor's been the latest one to release its manifesto today. We've also had the Tory manifesto. We've had the Liberal Democrat manifesto. We've had the Greens reply ComRes so so they're all coming out quick now aren't they. so just first of all, if you have a look at where kind of the polls stand. So, a YouGov Sky news poll this week put labor ahead at 38%, the conservatives on 18%. With the reform Party just narrowly behind on 17%, while the Liberal Democrats were around 15%. Obviously, in terms of actual seats that was with a little bit differently because, of where the Reform Party will be getting its votes, it actually wouldn't translate quite so much into seats for them as is the current projections. Look, but there has been some suggestion that we could even be looking at a conservative wipeout. That means that the Liberal Democrats and of course, the opposition. And then we've been running our own survey here at Farm Guardian because we want to know what farmers are thinking. So our survey, which has had 405 respondents, has put the conservatives ahead at 30%, labor just behind on 27, reform on 17, the Lib Dems on 14, with the Green Party on 5%. so a bit of a different picture for the farming community. But I suppose in a way, you know, we're often seen as traditionally the farming community in the rural community has been very heavily conservative. So how about kind of tallies up against previous elections, I suppose is is a bit different for the farming community than the public in general. And I think there's a general feeling out there and the industry I know the Tenant Farmers Association picked up on this, but in terms of actually a lot of a lot of farmers are undecided on who they're going to vote for at the ballot box at this particular time. You know, they're really confused. And hopefully the manifesto will give a bit more clarity for them, but they're really confused on what kind of is, each party's priorities when it comes to British agriculture. Yeah, I think it's interesting that both the Lib Dems and the conservatives have, promised more money. So the conservatives have promised 1 billion, extra. But that seems to be over the entire sort of 4 to 5 years. Yeah. Whereas the Lib Dems have promised that, each year and if you use actually asking for extra 2.5 million. So no one's really come close to that. And I don't think labor to have mentioned at all what any kind of figure, for agriculture. So that that's, that's quite interesting. It's, it's interesting that labor haven't committed any, any actual funding to farming as yet. It's also quite interested that additional billion that's coming from the conservatives when then there's a is it a 400 million pound underspend over the over two years of the farming budget? Yeah. I mean, I think that's the question that they've been asked on, on sort of every issue is if if you to it now, why haven't you already delivered it. You know, we've got labor jokes behind the conservatives in our poll. And then in third place is reform, which is quite interesting because they're obviously gunning for this conservative vote. obviously Nigel Farage has announced that he is going to stand as a candidate, which has given them a bounce in the polls. It might not translate to seats in the same way, because, you know, we've seen some polls that suggest that Ed Davey could be leader of the opposition, whereas, you know, reform. I think the top amount of seats I've seen is sort of been for 4 or 5. But, you know, it is obviously splitting that vote, and it's giving farmers something that they need to sit and think about, you know, where they're going to lend their votes. Whereas, you know, in the past, many people might have not had to think about that in terms of the budget. They have actually said they would increase the farming budget to 3 billion. Then also, they've said, scrapped climate related farming subsidies, protect country sports, which obviously, you know, two areas would be very controversial. And also they put a lot focus on kind of the focus on smaller farms and encouraging diversification, within those smaller farms as well. I think that's quite interesting what you said there, Rachel, about the environmental payments, because the other part is in terms of the Liberal Democrats, labor, you know, and obviously the conservatives have pledged to keep on with the Elms scheme and there's public money for public goods, whereas for farm are a little bit different. And I think they have said about direct direct payments, which, you know, is where we're kind of moving away from under under this government since the Brexit vote. No, definitely. They said they replace current subsidies with direct payments. and they wanted to stop productive land, being taken out for rewilding and solar farms. And so they must be formed. so really very different standpoints to the rest of the, of the parties. I think, like a reoccurring theme I've seen across the manifesto and something that was echoed by the CSA as well in terms of planning reform, planning being such a big thing. So rural and farm businesses and that moment, the current planning system is actually really holding farm businesses back. So that was kind of a key point, consistent across all the manifestos. I found was really trying to cut red tape, really simplify the planning system and make sure that kind of the planning application process is as quick as possible to get facilities like, you know, slurry goons over the line, because as we reported on the farmers garden, so many farmers are, you know, putting in their grant applications. They're getting successful for grants, but actually the big, big bugbear is actually getting planning permission from the local authority to get it in in the first place. Yeah, I think the planning thing is, is a major, issue because we've got stuff like the solar farms, like we've obviously committed to a lot more green energy as of the greens, of course. but labor of all sizes has gone towards more localization. So individual councils would be able to block things, a bit more easily. So it's it, it's quite it's quite an interesting sort of debate around the planning, because you sort of want a bit of everything. So it's whether everybody will be pleased, you know, you can't please everyone all of the time. And it goes back to that kind of demand for land, doesn't it? In terms of conflicting interests, how any party in the ten is going to manage that? Obviously, we've got such a housing crisis as well. There's demand for that. It's a real kind of difficult issue to tackle. Yeah. I mean labor are focusing very much on this gray belt, which is sort of on the edge of green belt and just sort of outside major urban areas for their housebuilding, which a lot of the rural areas are really keen to see rural housebuilding. It is a real problem. and houses that are affordable. So we've, we have got a lot of issues that are crossing over. but I think one of the main ones may be, the batches. Right. I think yeah. No bovine TB is obviously a big issue, especially among gob readership as well. but livestock farmers out there will be looking for bovine TB within that manifesto. And obviously and liberal Democrats, if I quote, they said developing safe, effective, humane, evidence based ways of controlling TB, including investing in a workable vaccine. So obviously they haven't really said anything specific towards the badger call. But you kind of get those inferences there that, you know, they are wanting to kind of a move away from the badger and, and very much a different stance to what conservatives have. Yeah, they've said and the labor line is it's gone a little bit further than that hasn't it I think. Yeah. So the labor line, to quote from the manifesto is that they will work with farmers and scientists on measures to eradicate bovine TB, protecting livelihoods so that we can end the ineffective budget. And I think that the use of the word ineffective budget will probably get quite a few people's backs up on this issue. No, definitely no. I think, you know, the inevitable happens. Is it that farmers here in England say, look over the border in Wales, they see the policy towards bovine TB, where the Welsh Labor and, you know, the trajectory is very different at the moment. And that is a concern for many livestock farmers. But it was interesting how in particular, within the labor manifesto, it was buried quite a lot, wasn't it. Yes. So I suppose this farming policy, I mean, I don't think anybody it was kind of expected it to dominate, labor or anybody, manifestos really, I suppose. But, you know, there was just, you know, sort of a paragraph, maybe a hundred words. Also, I have to get a word count up to that one that was about supporting British farming, which obviously those lines on bovine TB were in there. There were a couple of other bits, mentioned in trade about said standards in and food production. But I think all of the manifesto really, you know, besides that paragraph, there wasn't a huge mentions a farm in there's obviously all the things like the planning permission that's going to affect farmers. You know, this commitment to reform the business rate system will obviously have an impact on, on businesses like auction marks, which has previously, you know, talked about how difficult business rates can make it for them. and then there's other things like infrastructure, which I thought, Jane, I know you've followed the HS2 story quite closely, but, you know, labor, labor talking about infrastructure in terms of roads and, and rail in there. And they've obviously, made, comments about being able to compulsory purchase land, which will be quite a concern for people that might be in the path of these things. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. I mean, I think the three major parties, although as we've we've mentioned, the Lib Dems are sort of edging with reform at the moment. the, the Lib Dems have actually gone and have gone out with a deal, a fair deal for farmers. They have actually, it comes in at number 13 on the manifesto, but there is quite a lot, a lot for farmers in there. They're the only ones who sort of have really, you know, stuck their neck out on things and in terms of trade, they've said they would try and reverse the, Australia and New Zealand trade deals, which again, have been quite quiet from, from the other two. I think in terms of the infrastructure conversation, I think HS2 was a big it hasn't been mentioned at all. I don't think in, it's just gonna stay there like a giant white elephant. Really? No one's address that. Really. You know, if she was an AJ? Not really impacts our readers. We've heard just how devastating the implications of HS2 has been. Yeah, but it's not it's not come up at all. so an interesting observation I had across the manifestos was just, you know, consistently across all the parties. Public procurement was a real big thing. And that target of 50% and I think it's fair to say across all of them, you know, there was a sense that, and maybe this is a, you know, a response to the industry and lobbying groups around kind of prioritizing food security. Maybe prioritizing is a real word, but a focus on food security. I think we've heard that phrase probably more in the past, kind of two years or so than you've ever heard it before in your life. But it is in the labor manifesto. A food security is national security. And I think the events in, in Europe and obviously, like you say, people people's lobby in and certainly empty shelves have, you know, push that up the agenda. Yeah definitely. I think at this point it's also important to to to also talk about the Green Party's credentials and very much kind of, you know, again, on emphasis on that. They take food security very seriously. They don't want farmers to be that, you know, they're being cost of things, villains that, you know, they don't think that is right. They you know, they want to commit to tripling the financial support and the transition to nature friendly farming. They've said, actually, in their manifesto that farm payments to be linked to reduced use of pesticides and agrochemicals, which I thought was quite interesting, and again, kind of more around food, but in terms of kind of the, the next generation, they've said about free school meals and free breakfast clubs for, for children to year six. But also that idea of and this is something that's been brought up by some farmers that we've spoken to in terms of that next generation and new entrants incorporating agriculture somehow in the national curriculum. And this came up in the Green Party about schools to be involved in cooking and preparing food and it being part of the curriculum. And I think that's a really important point to make, because the future of British agriculture is something that we are very passionate about at Farmers Garden. And, you know, people in power should be passionate about because, you know, we need to entice people into our industry and to understand what a brilliant, fantastic industry is to work in. Yeah, I mean, Keir Starmer came out quite strongly on procurement when he made a speech to NFU conference in 2023. and that was at the same time when Minette was launching this food security is national security. So it's interesting that they've taken home a phrase that was very much bandied about at the time. but I haven't seen any sort of concrete figures on to how how committed they are to to that. He was talking about 50% there, but I don't know whether that is actually gone into the into the manifesto as a promise. And it's worth highlighting that, you know, it's a, you know, it's all well and good having these targets and 50%. But how easy is actually on the ground to to deliver this? And how practical is it just to say that that target for half of all food puts has gone into the manifesto, set the target. I'll quote again, but the target is for half of all food purchased across the public sector to be locally produced. Also 35 to higher environmental standards. So that is in the manifesto. I suppose there's a question over the locally produced or certified to high fire mental standards in there. But but yeah, it has made it into it. I think overall is a question for all parties how they manage those pledges for the environment and nature and those pledges for food and farming and how they marry those two, because there is, you know, they can work in harmony. We know they can. But it's how that balance can be struck with whoever gets into number ten. Yeah. And and they will, you know, they're all trying to please, their various, factors and sectors and stuff because I know the, the right to roam as he is very much banked on, on, on labor to, to bring in this Scottish style system. They're pretty fed up because that doesn't look like it's going to happen. so, you know, you've got all these different factions and that they're, they're trying to place a. Yeah, we'll say and while we mentioned Scotland, though, it's just worth say that the Scottish National Party is yet to release its manifesto. Hence why we're not digging into that. But obviously I'll our Scottish readers we know, will be, awaiting that one with interest with the the battle up in Scotland, you know, massively between, between the SNP, Scottish Labor, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats up there in Wales, obviously we've got played country who are very much gunning for the rural Wales vote. They say they'll be the voice of rural Wales in Westminster. as part of their kind of pledges within their manifestos, increasing GPS to help rural communities and health care in rural communities. It's about boosting the broadband infrastructure within Welsh rural communities and improving that rural digital connectivity, very much kind of supporting rural communities and growing those local rural economies, ensuring that those shops and pubs are thriving. amidst obviously with these rising costs. so very much kind of play coming, really pushing for that rural vote in Wales. And it's a it's a really interesting situation in Wales really overall at the moment. Is that it? Because we've obviously we know we've had a lot of frustration with the farming policy with the protests down in Cardiff. Vaughan Gething has lost a vote of confidence and obviously it's not a Senate election, but said the conservatives over in in Westminster are pointing to Wales and, and saying, you know, farmers look at what labor has done in Wales. And obviously the Labor Party in Westminster has kind of tried to distance themselves a bit from it. No, definitely. I mean, in regards when I've, interviewed Steve Reid in the past in terms around tree planting and that 10% tree planting target, which has been proposed in Wales as part of the at office. Steve Reid said that wouldn't be replicated in England. And now, you know, you can see in the manifesto, I believe it said around tree planting, but there was no targets actually set in terms of that. And I guess obviously like with anything more detail will come if that party gets into power. Yeah, I mean they've pledged new forests and and more open countryside and more access. but again there's no actual numbers. where you know how big those forests will be from which, from which areas they'll be, whose land they'll be be taken from. So, yeah, it could be a worry, could be a concern. I think that that's something that's kind of been raised by the CLA as well, I suppose, as a, you know, that lack of lack of detail, the manifestos of kind of sometimes just a bit like headlines up there. But, you know, the CLA have said, you know, this, there's a lot in there but no details. You know, she, she's highlighted the elm scheme a lot continue, but no details about the budget reform of the planning system, but no details about that. So, I mean, you know, we've got those headlines kind of commitments and things, but but no detail. Yeah. Always devil in the detail. And I think, you know, farmers will still have their eyes on those commitments that were made by the current government in terms of the tenant farming commissioner to, you know, the SFI options, obviously, we're going to get the update on that. So, and lots of farmers to think about on top of their day job. So that was a bit of a political analysis of where we are with the general election so far. The Farmers Guardian team will keep you updated. So please keep across our Farmers Guardian website and socials. And don't forget it is, 180 anniversary. We want to hear from you. We want pictures, we want videos, archive stories of how farming has changed over 180 years. And God, it has changed a lot. So we just want to hear from you, hear your stories and really showcase them in our magazine and online.