The Conservatives betrayed farmers over Brexit and their trade deals which threaten British food production. They then betrayed farmers again with the botched transition to the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS), causing huge hardship.

Now, with Rachel Reeves' Budget, Labour has shown that they too are no friend of our farmers, their families or the rural communities their businesses support.

As the grandson of a family dairy farmer, I understand the daily struggles that our farming communities face and the multiple threats to their business. I also understand how valuable their contribution is to our rural communities, our country’s economy and our own food security. 

I’m determined that I and the Liberal Democrats will be the voice that farmers and our rural communities deserve and ensure we are doing everything in our power to protect British farming for future generations to come.

Geoff Cooper,

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Romsey and Southampton North