Meeting with the Conservative Rural Forum

CLA North Communications Manager Henk Geertsema, met with (from left to right) Charlie Dewhirst - PPC for Bridlington and the Wolds; Lizzie Hacking, Chair of the Conservative Rural Forum; Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore and Farming Minister Mark Spencer.

The meeting was held to benefit constituency members, including farmers young and old, and local residents in the Keighley area. A diverse range of issues were discussed, including fly-tipping, future farming support, agricultural property relief, field sports and veganism.

Answering a question on the Conservatives' key message to rural voters, Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

"To ensure that farmers are supported to make a profit requires rural benchmarking in everything that we do. We need to ensure that investing in the NHS is not distracting from investing in Defra – we need to continue asking those questions in government."

"I think the CLA has a great part to play in their lobbying, and to keep rural issues on the agenda to focus on the rural economy. I think we all need to be flag bearers for rural life, and making sure that politicians of all colours understand rural life."