Challenging rural voters

Roger Williams, a third generation livestock farmer, is defending one of the smallest majorities in Wales for the Lib Dems.

He runs 600 ewes and 50 suckler cows within the Brecon and Radnor constituency, which has over the last three decades also returned Labour and Conservative MPs.

At the last General Election, the 54,000 registered voters gave him a wafer thin majority of 750.

“Agriculture is very important in much of this constituency, so it helps to understand the needs of farmers and those involved in ancillary industries,” says Mr Williams, who owns 340 acres of disadvantaged land at Tredonen Court, Llanfilo.

However, at this election he faces competition from Conservative Andrew Davies who farms in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Early campaigning has revealed that most farmers acknowledge that profitability has improved, albeit from a low base, but they are concerned about the fallen stock scheme.

“The lambing season has shown how badly thought out the national scheme was. I want a system that allows farmers to apply for licensed on farm burial sites, or digesters.”