This week I joined my colleague Maya Ellis MP at Myerscough College for a brilliant evening with local farmers, food producers, and representatives from rural organisations across Lancashire.
The event was all about listening – hearing directly from those who feed the nation and care for our countryside about the challenges they face, and what needs to change to make rural life and work more sustainable.
I’ve always believed that when you want to make good policy, the best place to start is by talking to the people who live and breathe it every day. Farmers are on the front line of so many vital issues: food security, environmental stewardship, and the impact of climate change and they deserve to have their voices heard loud and clear in Westminster.
It was heartening to see such an engaged and passionate group come together. We were joined by members of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Wyre Rivers Trust, and others who all share a deep commitment to Lancashire’s countryside and communities.
Topics ranged from farm support schemes and supply chain fairness to the importance of reliable rural infrastructure, broadband, and transport. These might sound like practical concerns, and they are, but they’re also about the future of our rural way of life. When farms struggle, so do the villages, schools, and local businesses that depend on them.
Both Maya and I are members of the Labour Rural Research Group, which brings together 26 Labour MPs representing rural areas. Our mission is simple: to make sure rural Britain is no longer an afterthought in national politics.
Too often, decisions are made in Westminster without enough understanding of what life is really like in our small towns, villages, and farming communities. That’s something we’re determined to change.
I want to thank everyone who came along and shared their experiences and to Myerscough College for hosting such a welcoming and productive discussion. The insights from the evening will feed directly into the ongoing work of the Rural Research Group and help shape how we can deliver real, lasting support for rural Lancashire.
You can find out more about the work of the Labour Rural Research Group here.
As always, my door is open to farmers, growers, and anyone working in our countryside who wants to share their views. These conversations don’t stop when the event ends so please always feel free to get in touch at [email protected] or call 01524 566 551.