Thank you to the 1,261 CPF Members from at least 396 constituencies who responded to our farming and food security survey, plus the 210 or more Members who participated in small-group discussions organised by the CPF online and in-person around the country.
Participants described their connection with farming as: Consumer (49%), Interested in agriculture policy (22%), Farmer (7.3%), Agricultural business owner (2.5%) and Farm worker (0.7%). One-in-three (34%) are involved in farming: 26% for more than 20 years, 3.7% for 11-20 years, 2.4% for 5-10 years and 2.0% for less than 5 years.
About four-out-of-five (79%) Members said that they were familiar or very familiar with the recent Labour Budget presented by Rachel Reeves and its implications for the farming sector, with a further one-in-six (18%) saying they were moderately familiar. Over nine-out-of-ten (94%) said they were concerned or very concerned about the impact of Labour’s Budget on British farmers. The majority were also confident or very confident that the Conservative Party can offer a better alternative to the current Budget for British farmers.
CPF Members see food security, the rural economy and farm tax policies as the most important issues affecting farmers and rural communities. Their chief concerns were that proposed inheritance tax changes and rising costs will force the sale of family farms, reduce domestic food production, and undermine the long-term viability of the agricultural sector, leading to greater corporate influence, environmental harm, and mental health challenges.
Members’ personal experiences highlight how Labour’s policies risk dismantling family farms, disrupting food production, and destabilising rural communities, with recurring themes of financial strain, the forced sale of assets, and threats to generational continuity.
Members favour tailored, long-term policies that balance food security, economic viability, and environmental stewardship. The most frequently mentioned proposals were:
- Inheritance Tax Reform: Abolish or significantly increase the threshold for inheritance tax on family farms to prevent forced sales and preserve generational continuity.
- Promote Domestic Produce: Launch a “Buy British” campaign to encourage consumers to choose locally produced food, supported by improved labelling and financial incentives.
- Restore or Adjust Subsidies: Reinstate or tailor subsidies to prioritise food production, marginal land use, and investments in technology, with mechanisms to support small and medium-sized farms.
- Regulate Imports: Ensure imported goods meet UK welfare and environmental standards, with tariffs or penalties for non-compliance, to protect domestic producers.
- Reduce Bureaucracy and Regulation: Streamline administrative processes, cut red tape, and make schemes like the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) simpler and more accessible.
- Reinstate Marketing Boards: Reintroduce pre-Brexit-style marketing boards to stabilise prices, manage supply and demand, and collectively support farmers’ income.
- Invest in Technology and Infrastructure: Provide tax relief and grants for investments in modern technology, alongside expanded rural broadband and connectivity.
- Protect Agricultural Land: Implement stronger protections against the sale or conversion of productive farmland for non-agricultural uses, such as housing developments or solar farms.
- Fair Supermarket Practices: Introduce legislation to ensure supermarkets pay fair prices to farmers, with reforms to address exploitative supply chain practices and improve profitability for producers.
- Support for Small Abattoirs and Local Processing: Provide financial and regulatory support for small abattoirs to sustain local meat production, reduce transportation costs, and improve animal welfare.
- Agricultural Insurance Scheme: Establish a state-backed insurance program to protect farmers from risks such as extreme weather events, ensuring stable food production despite external shocks.
- Education and Public Awareness: Launch initiatives to educate the public on the importance of farming, food origins and sustainability, and incorporate farming education into school curriculums to build long-term support for British agriculture.
As usual, a more detailed report of members’ views has been shared with the Party’s leadership. We look forward to sharing a formal response in due course.
