Commons eyes the future for sheep farming

In an important early signal of the language and ideas underpinning the new Labour Government’s approach to farming, on Wednesday 4 September the House of Commons held a Westminster Hall debate on the future of sheep farming. Daniel Zeichner MP, recently appointed as Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, offered some encouraging noises in support of sheep farmers and the meat they produce: 

“The UK Government are grateful to our sheep farmers. I echo the points made by Opposition Members: we commend sheep farmers for all their work to provide us with products that meet such high environmental and welfare standards and to support the domestic food supply chain and strong export markets. They play a very important role in supporting rural communities, with some 150,000 jobs contributing to economic growth. 

“Sheepmeat production was worth £1.6 billion in 2023 and is crucial to our food supply chains. Sheepmeat is a protein-rich food that is produced in often challenging environments that are not necessarily suitable for other livestock.” 

He was responding to a debate initiated by Joe Morris MP, recently elected as Hexham’s first Labour MP and, indeed, its first from any party other than the Conservatives (or a sitting Speaker of the House of Commons) in 100 years. Clearly determined to burnish his credentials as a champion for a classic rural constituency, Mr Morris had only two days earlier brought an Adjournment Debate on banking in rural Northumberland. 

In this debate, Mr Morris highlighted the importance of the sheep sector to Northumberland and the wider uplands. He recognised some need for change in farming for the sake of promoting biodiversity but argued that this should not “take out large swathes of land from food production”. He acknowledged that farmers in his constituency had not been used to voting Labour and confessed to some scepticism on the part of his campaigners about seeking their votes, but proclaimed the election of a new government as an opportunity to reset the party’s relationship between farmers and the government. He went on to outline the particular struggles faced by tenant farmers. 

Other notable contributions in the debate included those of Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, DUP), Robin Swann MP (South Antrim, UUP) and Jim Allister (North Antrim, TUV), who each brought a Northern Irish perspective; David Smith MP (North Northumberland, Lab), who echoed the government line that food security is national security in calling for greater self-sufficiency in staple foods; and Sarah Dyke MP (Glastonbury and Somerton, LD), who decried the new government’s refusal to make the long-term commitment to the agricultural budget that she argued farmers need to plan with certainty. Countryside Alliance members may also have thrilled to hear Torcuil Crichton MP (Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Lab), declare: 

“[W]henever I hear the term “rewilding”, or read any correspondence about it, I always search the address and suggest that the wolves be released at that postcode first, before being released in our constituencies.” 

Mr Zeichner’s government response was encouraging. While he was in no position to make spending commitments, his remarks in praise of sheepmeat in particular could be seen as a welcome rebuke to the activist extremists seeking to impose veganism by fiat, which the Countryside Alliance has resolutely opposed. He also reiterated the party’s commitment to targeting half of all public sector food procurement to come from local sources or be produced to higher environmental standards. 

The Alliance remains committed to supporting British food and farming, among our many initiatives to serve as the voice of the countryside. To help us raise the volume, please consider joining the Countryside Alliance today.