Rural West communities 'targets, not constituents'

LABOUR has been accused of viewing the West's rural communities as “targets rather than constituents” over controversial plans to reform significant farming policies.

- ATHWENNA IRONS

Speaking on the opening day of the 2025 Devon County Show, Lord Roborough slammed the Government for the “many awful decisions and actions” it has taken recently, pointing to the changes to inheritance tax reliefs and sudden closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme.

Addressing the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) Political Breakfast, the Shadow Minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said he “couldn’t imagine why” the Environment Secretary Steve Reed would be “reluctant” to attend the event and speak with stakeholders.

Despite invitations being sent out to Government ministers by the CLA, it was a political no-show at the standing-room-only discussion event yesterday - traditionally regarded as a curtain-raiser for three days of festivities at Westpoint Exeter.