What are party conferences?
Every year, UK political parties hold their annual conferences. Thousands of people including politicians, party members and stakeholders such as thinktanks, media outlets and charities attend.
Given the inflationary pressures weighing on families and farmers up and down the country, we will be asking how all parties will ensure British farming businesses can continue to deliver high-quality, affordable, and climate-friendly food for the nation while also protecting and caring for our environment.
Putting the issues direct to MPs
Our engaging stand brings to life all of our diverse agri-sectors, featuring a glasshouse and milking parlour along with grassland, field margins and trees.
This year, we’re asking political delegates to pledge their support for farming by signing an apple to hang on our tree and we’ll be providing apple juice tastings and samples of cheese to make for a memorable visit.
The stand provides an opportunity for MPs, Peers, and councillors to meet officeholders, directors and the NFU’s external affairs team to learn more about farming’s current challenges.
‘Our farmers stand ready to work with policy makers’
Speaking ahead of the conferences, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “With a new government and political environment, it’s more important than ever that the NFU is out in force at party conferences to showcase all that British farming delivers for the nation.
“Farmers and growers are the backbone of the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, food and drink, worth a huge £148 billion to the economy and employing more than four million people. Not only do we provide high quality, climate-friendly food for all, but we are the custodians of our much-loved countryside and the protectors of the natural environment.
“However, our members are under immense pressure. Ongoing uncertainty around the Environmental Land Management schemes, concern over losing BPS payments, devastating weather events and relentlessly high production costs have all contributed to a collapse in confidence and pushing the resilience of farming businesses to the brink.
“Our farmers stand ready to work with policy makers to achieve this goal, and that’s what we’ll be highlighting to MPs from all political parties over the next few weeks.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
“This is not only threatening the sustainability of British farming, but also having a serious impact on the mental health of the people at its heart. Our members are feeling the strain, and it’s crucial this is recognised.
“At our Back British Farming Day Westminster reception we heard Secretary of State Steve Reed speak about the mental health challenges in the farming community. We now need policy solutions that will help relieve these pressures, on top of supporting homegrown food production and boosting our national food security. With the budget fast approaching, all parties need to carefully consider how much they value our food security and our environmental ambitions by supporting or delivering a renewed and enhanced agriculture budget to enable a thriving food and farming sector.
“Our farmers stand ready to work with policy makers to achieve this goal, and that’s what we’ll be highlighting to MPs from all political parties over the next few weeks.”
Liberal Democrat party conference
Party conference season kicked off in mid-September as the Liberal Democrats descended on Brighton (14 – 17 September).
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos attended the conference’s flagship ‘business day’.
The NFU also hosted a reception that welcomed more than 100 MPs, Peers, and councillors.
Attendees at the reception heard speeches from NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos, Liberal Democrat Efra spokesperson Tim Farron MP and the new chair of the Efra Select Committee Alistair Carmichael MP.
There was significant discussion about the NFU’s ask surrounding the urgent need for a renewed and enhanced multi-annual agriculture budget to give farmers the confidence to invest and deliver for food production, the environment and clean energy.
Labour party conference
The NFU stand with its front row position has been the centre of activity for political engagement at this year’s Labour party conference.
Visits were received from:
- Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves
- Defra Secretary Steve Reed
- Secretary of State for Science Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle
- Secretary of State for NI Hilary Benn
- Secretary of State for Defence John Healey
- Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner
- Defence Minister Luke Pollard
- Work and Pensions Minister Stephen Timms
- Defra Under Secretary Mary Creagh.
Key topics of discussion include the need for a multi-annual agriculture budget of £5.6 billion, inheritance tax and the Farming Recovery Fund.
A total of 647 delegates have signed an apple to back British Farming and the NFU has hosted media interviews with ITV, the BBC and GB News.
The conference in photos:
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Defra Secretary Steve Reed with David Exwood & Aled Jones
Defra Secretary Steve Reed with David Exwood, Aled Jones and NFUS President Martin Kennedy
Tom Bradshaw, Minister for Water and Flooding Emma Hardy, Rachel Hallos and David Exwood
Callum Anderson MP with Aled Jones
Defence Minister Luke Pollard with David Exwood
Defence Minister Luke Pollard with David Exwood
Defra Under Secretary Mary Creagh with David Exwood
Conservative party conference
This year, the Conservative party conference was in Birmingham (29 September – 2 October).
The NFU welcomed all four of the Conservative leadership candidates to the stand as well as nine Shadow Cabinet and Ministerial visits.
Following the packed fringe event on Monday evening, Shadow Defra Secretary Steve Barclay visited the NFU stand on Tuesday.
In addition, 476 delegates showed their support for farming by signing a pledge apple.
The conference in photos:
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NFU stand at the Conservative party conference
Tom Bradshaw and Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly
Delegates can pledge their support for farming by signing an apple to hang on our tree
Shadow secretary of state for education Damian Hinds MP
David Exwood and Shadow Defence Minister Stuart Anderson
David Exwood and Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Victoria Atkins MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kevin Hollinrake MP
Shadow financial secretary to the Treasury Nigel Huddleston MP backs British farming
Tom Bradshaw, David Exwood and Shadow Farming Minister Robbie Moore
NFU fringe events
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.
