'Sir Keir risks turning the countryside into no-go zone for Labour once again'

A LABOUR peer has warned Sir Keir Starmer that he risks "turning the countryside into a no-go zone" for the party with its attack on the nation's farmers.

- Steph Spyro

Baroness Ann Mallalieu, president of the Countryside Alliance, suggested Rachel Reeves' Budget raises the possibility of "alienating Labour" outside towns and cities.

Some 190 Labour MPs hold seats with at least some part of them being rural, an analysis by her group showed.

Baroness Mallalieu said: "It would be foolish to underestimate the overwhelming public support for our farmers.

"They are part of the national fabric. The recent Budget and the subsequent fall out since then which has only worsened risks alienating Labour in the countryside and undoing a huge amount of good work in the years building up to the general election by Keir Starmer and others.

"We have been here before as a party and we now risk turning the countryside into a no-go zone for Labour again.

"This would be a disaster and action must be taken to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.