Don’t let Labour ruin rural life

THE Sunday Express has a proud tradition of standing up for the UK’S fantastic food producers.

This paper has encouraged readers to buy British and called for more support for the people who put food on our tables.

Backing British farming is also at the heart of this government’s long-term plan for the future.

That is not only because home-grown food is the best in the world but because the pandemic and the impact of the war in Ukraine has shown how vital domestic food security is.

Thanks to Brexit, the Government has transformed the way we support our farmers.

We’re rewarding farmers for growing food in a sustainable way, bolstering our food security, while also protecting and improving our countryside.

Around 15 million trees have been planted in England in this parliament; we have created five community forests and are committed to a Forest for the Nation and a new National Park.

Taking back control of our waters has allowed us to negotiate fishing deals.

Brexit has also helped us strengthen our world-leading animal welfare standards. We are banning the export of live animals for slaughter, stopping cruel journeys which we couldn’t prevent when we were in the EU.

All the progress we have made would be in peril by switching to a government without a plan for our environment and rural economy at the general election.

In Wales, the impact of Labour rule on the countryside has been stark. The Welsh Government admits 5,500 farming jobs will be lost under their policies.

If rolled out across England, an estimated 33,300 rural jobs would go. We must not let Labour drag our rural economy back to square one.