Brown attempts to win over farmers

Gordon Brown last night launched a rural charm offensive as he lavished praise on farmers just hours after the Conservatives accused Ministers of being "divorced and cut-off" from the countryside.

Fears that the Prime Minister might receive a rocky reception at last night's dinner at the National Farmers' Union conference were averted as he praised farmers for the way they dealt with last year's extreme weather and disease outbreaks.

He promised lessons would be learned and urged the industry to work with Ministers to ensure farming has a future.

He insisted he would never lose sight of the importance of the countryside and said he wanted rural communities to be a "thriving hub of activity".

He told delegates: "You are rightly at the heart of Britain not just geographically, not just in history and heritage, you are at the heart of Britain because of the shared values we cherish because of the vision we have for the future, because of what you are creating in our country and the prosperity you are bringing to our country."