MPs enrol on NFU’s Fellowship Scheme to champion British food and farming

31 July 2024

houses of parliament, banner crop

Newly elected MPs are being given a unique opportunity by the NFU to champion British food and farming in their constituencies and in Westminster.

The NFU’s new Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme, in partnership with sponsoring organisations ABP UK, Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), Arla Foods, Barfoots, British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) and Fareshare, will showcase the industry and enable participating MPs to see firsthand how sustainable and affordable food gets from field to fork.

The year-long itinerary will cover different farming sectors and concludes with a graduation dinner in Westminster where each MP will be recognised for their work in building up an understanding and knowledge of the UK food and farming industry.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “The NFU engages with all political parties to ensure they understand the importance of boosting home-grown food production as well as the work farmers and growers carry out caring for the environment, providing a home for nature and finding solutions to the challenges of climate change.

“Our Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme is an extension of that campaigning work and has been designed to create a new group of champion MPs who will speak up in their constituencies but also in Westminster on some of the big issues impacting an industry which forms the backbone of the UK’s largest manufacturing sector – food and drink – contributing more than £146 billion to the economy.

“Along with all our sponsor partners, we will provide those MPs with the tools, knowledge and understanding they need to be able to highlight the critical role of food security in delivering national security and the growth and investment required for the future of British farming, so our farmers and growers can continue producing safe, sustainable and affordable homegrown food alongside caring for the environment.”

MPs who have signed up to the NFU Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme are:

NAME

CONSTITUENCY

PARTY

Rebecca Smith

South West Devon

Conservatives

Sarah Russell

Congleton

Labour

Bradley Thomas

Bromsgrove

Conservatives

Rachel Taylor

North Warwickshire & Bedworth

Labour

Catherine Fookes

Monmouthshire

Labour

Michelle Welsh

Sherwood Forest

Labour

James Naish

Rushcliffe

Labour

Sam Carling

North West Cambridgeshire

Labour

Mike Reader

Northampton South

Labour

Olivia Bailey

Reading West & Mid Berkshire

Labour

Andrew Pakes

Peterborough

Labour

Jo White

Bassetlaw

Labour

Josh Newbery

Cannock Chase

Labour

Julie Minns

Carlisle & North Cumbria

Labour

Dr Roz Savage

South Cotswolds

Liberal Democrats

Lee Dillon

Newbury

Liberal Democrats

Sarah Dyke

Glastonbury & Somerton

Liberal Democrats

Callum Anderson

Buckingham & Bletchley

Labour

Maya Ellis

Ribble Valley

Labour

Steve Witherden

Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr

Labour

 

More information:

The NFU’s sponsoring partners for the Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme are ABP UK, Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), Arla Foods, Barfoots, British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) and Fareshare.