Labour will need to do more to sway the farming vote

摘要

We live in a world of deficits -economic, trade, kindness and, I'm sure, come April, we'll be loudly experiencing anothermoisture deficit. But I would suggest we're also in the midst of a rural democracy deficit.Like 3,000 others, I recently logged on to the NFU's annual conference, impressed by the seniority of political speakers. Not only did the prime minister make a bedraggled appearance, but so too did two senior secretaries of state -with international trade secretary Liz Truss just pipping Defra secretary George Eustice in the "more flags equal more patriotism" sweepstake.And then we had the leader of Her Majesty's government's most loyal opposition, Sir Kier Starmer, who went to the effort of sourcing a rather snazzy lectern for the occasion.