Lib Dems accused of mimicking NFU farming campaign

The Liberal Democrats have been accused of “jumping on the bandwagon” after the party launched its own “Back British Farming” campaign.

The NFU launched the original Back British Farming campaign to drive support for the UK food and farming sector back in August 2013.

The highly successful campaign, which has been running for more than a decade, also includes an annual Back British Farming Day every September to raise awareness among MPs and politicians of Britain’s food self-sufficiency.

See also: Libs Dems demand extra £1bn/year for farming

In the run-up to the general election, the Lib Dems’ “Back British Farming” campaign urges supporters to sign the party’s online petition to “back our farmers”.

The Lib Dems’ campaign messaging states: “Farmers across the UK are worried about their future.

“They’re worried that the UK will be flooded with poor quality food that undercuts the food they produce to high environmental and welfare standards.

“The Conservatives have sold out our farmers. Liberal Democrats back British farmers.”

Rural vote targeted

Political analysts have noted that the Lib Dems are making efforts to woo the farming and rural vote.

On Thursday 30 May, Lib Dems leader Ed Davey visited a farm in Treflach, Shropshire, with party colleague Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire.

During the visit, Mr Davey was keen to highlight his party’s plan to support farmers and rural communities with £1bn uplift in the UK’s agricultural budget.

Meanwhile, Ms Morgan accused the Conservative government of signing off “terrible trade deals” and botching the farming transition.

Liz Webster, founder of farm lobby Save British Farming and a former member of the Lib Dems, told Farmers Weekly that she was upset the party had used the “Save British Farming” slogan in some of its social media coverage to support its new farming campaign.

She said: “I’m astounded the Lib Dems are jumping on the bandwagon and using my campaign name to promote their farming campaign.

“They had every opportunity to benefit from my Save British Farming campaign when I was a party member, but they had no interest in it at all, apart from Tim Farron.

“Ed Davey would not come near it; he has zero interest in farming.

“Ed has been on my farm in Wiltshire three times and he only wanted to look at the solar farm.

“Why are the Lib Dems using farming as a gimmick? They were more interested in supporting vegans, which is why I left.”

NFU ‘apolitical’

A spokesperson for the Lib Dems confirmed their campaign is called “Back British Farming” and not “Save British Farming”.

The NFU is an apolitical lobbying organisation representing the interests of more than 46,000 farm business members across England and Wales.

A spokesman for the union said, in this pre-election period, it was “not able to comment on a political party’s campaign on farming”.