Budget: Implications for Farming Communities

Debate between Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and Daniel Zeichner

Monday 4th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (North Cotswolds) (Con)]

I declare my interests as a farmer.

A 75-year-old farmer emailed me last week and said

“we work long hours, usually alone.”

He said that agriculture

“has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry. There is a great deal of talk these days about mental health and the need to alleviate stress in the workplace, yet”

last week the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for agriculture

“destroyed everything I have ever worked for.”

How would the Minister answer that?

[Daniel Zeichner]

I would reassure that farmer. I am afraid that I do not think he is correct on that, and we are absolutely determined to ensure that he can hand on his farm, as others have done before, but let us ensure that he gets the proper advice.