Fringe events are an important part of political party conference activity and a chance for members to get involved.
We are hosting fringe events at the Conservative and Labour party conferences, bringing together a range of speakers to discuss the parties’ visions for the future of domestic food production and the policies needed to support a thriving agricultural sector.
This year’s theme is ‘How will British farming deliver Labour’s missions?’. You can see what issues were addressed by the panel, which was chaired by Will Hutton, political economist, author and columnist for the Observer, at last year’s fringe event.
The event is free and NFU members can simply turn up. There’s no need to register beforehand.
Chair: Hannah Barnes – Associate editor, The New Statesman
Tom Bradshaw – NFU President
Daniel Zeichner MP – Farming Minister
Sarah Russell MP – Member of Parliament for Congleton | NFU Food and Farming Fellow
Charlie Ireland – Managing Partner, Ceres Rural
Meet the speakers:
Hannah Barnes
Associate editor, The New Statesman
Prior to that she spent 15 years at the BBC specialising in analytical and investigative journalism on both television and radio.
She has produced and reported a variety of Radio 4's best known long-form shows and been a daily editor of the Today programme.
She was later investigations producer for BBC Newsnight.
Her book, 'Time to Think: The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock's Gender Service for Children', is a Sunday Times Bestseller and was shortlisted for Orwell Prize for Political Writing and Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction.
Tom Bradshaw
NFU President
The home farm is based around arable production but has also diversified into equestrian and renewables.
Tom has represented the NFU from Local Branch Chairman through to Chair of the National Combinable Crops Board.
Tom was elected to the position of NFU President in February 2024.
Responsibilities
- Animal health and welfare incl. bTB
- Trade and standards
- Climate, energy and net zero
- Food supply chain (fair dealing, mergers and acquisitions, competition, regulation)
- Animal ID and movements
- Assurance review
- Taxation and fiscal policy
- Immigration
Daniel Zeichner MP
Farming Minister
Daniel was previously Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2020 to 2024. Prior to this, he was Shadow Minister for Transport.
Daniel founded and chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Data Analytics, is chair of the All Party Parliamentary University Group and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Life Sciences, and is Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the East of England among others.
Daniel has a History degree from the University of Cambridge, and on leaving university ran a small nursery with his partner in rural Norfolk before embarking on a career in computer programming.
Sarah Russell MP
MP for Congleton | NFU Food and Farming Fellow
Prior to entering Parliament, Sarah was a councillor with Manchester City Council representing Northenden, having been elected in 2014.
During that time, she served as vice-chair of the Wythenshawe Community Housing Group improving tenants’ access to good homes. Sarah is solicitor specialising in employment law, mostly advising employees.
Sarah is a member of the NFU’s Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme.
Charlie Ireland
Managing Partner, Ceres Rural
He specialises in farm management and strategic planning.
