Labour's TB eradication policy 'of great concern' as farmers hear pledges

Long-term commitments to British food and the acceleration of high-speed broadband roll-out are among the promises political parties made in their recently published manifestos.

After extensive manifesto analysis, farmers heard what each of the parties pledged to the food and farming sector when Head of Government and Parliamentary Matt Ware addressed the NFU Council.

To promote British food ahead of the General Election, just 16 days away, the NFU launched the Great British Food Gets My Vote campaign in February. Thousands of people have already pledged their support for the industry.

NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “It’s good to see a comprehensive plan to grow UK food production promised by the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, and wide cross-party support for the Grocery Code Adjudicator extension, rolling out high-speed broadband to rural areas and better labelling. There’s also mixed party support on the reduction of red-tape.

“The areas of divergence are of great concern to the NFU; these include the TB eradication strategy which the Labour and Green party have rejected. We would like to see more detailed policies from UKIP and the Conservative party on dealing with a potential exit from the EU, as it’s the UK’s largest food export market and source of support payments.

“It is excellent news that four of the NFU’s manifesto asks have already been implemented, including Grocery Code Adjudicator fines, the first review of tractor and trailer weight and speed restrictions, legislation to combat fly-grazing and two to five-year tax averaging.

“We look forward to working with the next government whatever the colour, or colours, to ensure it has productive and profitable British food and farming at its heart.”

Matt Ware, the NFU's head of government and parliamentary affairs, said: "With the tightest General Election in modern political history, the rural vote is arguably the big battle ground. Get out beyond the big urban areas and you’ll find two-way marginal seats abound.

"To be precise there are 37 rural marginal seats in England alone where the incumbent party has less than a 10% majority (5% point swing).

"Equally, what impact will UKIP have on the Conservative and Labour marginal seats in rural areas? Who will UKIP attract votes from and how will this affect the outcome in each individual seat?"

"A Labour Defra will cancel the Government’s ineffective and inhumane badger culls which have cost almost £10 million in the first year that two pilot culls have," the Party said.

"The Tory led management of Defra has been characterised by waste, incompetence, and storing up costs for the future."

"Millions of pounds have been squandered on a badger cull which experts advise will make no meaningful contribution to eradicating bovine TB."

The Conservatives said the government would continue with the badger cull if they won the election.

"We will not let up, whatever complaints we get from protesters groups. We are in it for the long haul and we will not walk away," Environment Secretary Liz Truss said.

"Bovine TB is the greatest threat to our beef and dairy industry, endangering our food security. That’s why this Government…will take the difficult decisions to deal with this disease.

"Our twenty five year strategy includes cattle movement controls, vaccination in the edge area and culling where the disease is rife. This strategy has worked in Australia and it’s working in New Zealand and Ireland. And I am grateful to the NFU for their help on the strategy and on our TB Expert Advisory Group."

Maria Eagle, Labour's Shadow Environment Secretary, said: "The Tory-led management of Defra has been characterised by waste, storing up costs for the future and incompetence.

"Millions of pounds have been wasted on a badger cull which experts advise will make no meaningful contribution to eradicating bovine TB.

"This Tory-led Government never should have pressed ahead with these ineffective and inhumane badger culls when they knew from the start that this policy had the potential to make the problem of bovine TB worse.

"Instead of ignoring the overwhelming evidence the Government must work with scientists, wildlife groups and farmers to develop an alternative strategy to get the problem of bovine TB under control."