Farmers focus on the election vote intentions
Farmers focus on the election vote intentions
Polling day is creeping ever closer but some of farmers
weeklys Farmer Focus writers are no nearer to deciding
how they will cast their votes. The consensus is that the
Parties are offering nothing that will revitalise farming
Tim Piper, Kent: I think the Labour Party should be renamed the Conservatives, the Conservatives should become the Independence Party and with the demise of Screaming Lord Sutch, the Liberal Democrats could become the Raving Totally Unrealistic Party. Then if we bring back capital punishment, National Service and public flogging, that should do the trick. If it wasnt for Labours policy towards field sports and the fact that I detest "one punch Prescotts" smug, arrogant attitude, I might be tempted to vote Labour.
David Jones, Powys: In Wales we have always been strong believers that too much money goes to big farmers, so Labour has a strong point when they say they want to see support spread more evenly. But after that many of their spokesmens answers are quite similar and it concerns me that Parties want to push us towards being park keepers. We dont want to be put down as custodians of the countryside – we want to be food producers.
Stephen Bumstead, Beds: None of the major Parties has much to say regarding the recovery of farming. Labours track record so far is dangerously unimpressive. And the prospect of them chucking more good money after bad into organic conversion schemes is just an arrogant display of lack of understanding and pandering to daft pressure group agendas. A schoolmaster once told me I must try harder. I am returning to all election candidates manifestos with the same words.
Andrew Kerr, Essex: The past weeks election campaign appears to have been dominated by taxation policy. The last thing that bothers me is a penny on income tax! Like most farmers I dont anticipate having much of a taxable profit for a while at least. Lets not rush to join the euro – a public referendum would back this view, and anyway many countries outside the EU trade quite successfully with UK and Europe. Right now a weaker pound and a political will to help rather than dismiss agriculture is best for us. For those reasons I will be backing the Conservatives on June 7.
Ceiriog Jones, north Wales: One thing I have noticed is that politics is a long way from the real world in agriculture. Having read what the Parties have said about farming its the Conservatives Im most inclined to vote for. A lot of what they have said suggests they will support and encourage farming and move us towards a more sustainable agriculture. That said, I will wait until the last week before I finally make up my mind.
Chris Knowles, Cornwall: Being a mere 30 years old, like many voters I had only experienced life under a Tory government – that is before this Labour government. Reflecting on the last four years I would conclude that "new" Labour appears to be broadly taking things in a similar direction to the Conservatives. The foot-and-mouth outbreak has highlighted extremely well how inter-related the rural economy is. Farmers with 1.5% of the vote are only one cog in a much bigger wheel encompassing tourism market towns and the agricultural ancillary industries. I feel that both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats understand this fact more so than do Labour.
Mike Allwood, Cheshire: As I watch the campaign I find myself becoming more and more cynical because of the way it is being stage managed. I think overall none of the Parties have sparked the imagination. The Tories have made a claim they would prevent food coming in if it was not produced to the same standards as in this country. Its a major claim and if they could substantiate it, something that might influence my vote. But actually I think they will be railroaded. Another area of concern for me is that none of the Parties seem to be addressing green issues properly. I do examine the green credentials of the Parties and I may well even vote Green. The 6p per litre cut in fuel tax promised by the Tory Party is shameful electioneering.
Dennis Bridgeford, Highlands: We have heard the rhetoric before and looking at the manifestos there is nothing new. Theres nothing to say farming will be more prosperous in the next five years than it has been in the past four years. I noted the Conservatives pledge to stop food that isnt produced to British standards coming in. Unfortunately I think they will come out and say we would like to but under EU rules we cant. At the end of the day we cannot go on as we are and need a steer towards the future.
Peter Delbridge, Devon: We have a sitting Liberal MP, and to be fair, when I have contacted him on various issues he has responded efficiently. So looking at the Lib Dems I like their honest approach to direct taxation if it meant that indirect stealth taxes would be reduced. They however do not commit themselves to reducing the most unjust tax for rural motorists – fuel duty. Since we are unlikely, by their own admission, to see a Lib Dem government a Liberal vote is in effect a Labour vote. On asylum and Europe, the Tories are about right. I accept the sort of Europe we thought we joined in 73 but not the enlarged Federal super state it looks like we are heading for.
Giles Henry, Borders: What has got me about what I have seen is the amount of spin involved – but that always gets me about an election. Although last time I voted Labour I am a bit disenchanted, as many are, with how they performed in their first term. I do feel that the Lib Dem man who got in last time has done very well and he may well get my vote. However, I still feel that the borders could do much better if we had an MP from the governing Party.
Paul Warburton, Oxon: Im a committed Conservative and nothing I have heard so far has suggested I will be changing my vote. One of the main reasons is their pledge to bring honesty in labelling. I know the area is fraught with EU regulations but I do feel the Party will do something. The Labour Party has pledged to introduce a Department of Rural Affairs but I think that will bring a whole raft of new regulation and is rather like shuffling the playing cards. Much of the problem with MAFF is to do with low staff morale It would be better to put more money into MAFF and pay staff more money.
Ron Duncan, Moray: Having read the farming manifestos twice I found I was impressed by our nationalist Partys approach. That said the Scottish Conservatives are more middle of the road than down in the south and that suits me, so in the end I really dont think I will be changing from Conservative. I worry greatly about the Labour Partys wish to put us all in the same "rural" bag. We have it in Scotland and it works quite well but I dont think it will work on a national level. If there were changes I would worry about watering down our input in Europe.
John Jeffrey, Borders: Looking over the past week I think what a waste of money. The Parties should be limited to Party political broadcasts and the millions that get poured into campaigning should be poured into the economy. Having read the Labour Partys manifesto I am disappointed but not surprised. Their manifesto says bugger all about farming. If it was purely on manifesto I would vote for the Conservatives but I dont think they will get in. Because of this I will probably vote for the best person to represent my interests locally. This means I could well be voting Lib Dem.
Gordon Capstick, Cumbria: Going on the hustings round here I am concerned there just seems to be no enthusiasm for the election. Watching the television at night all anyone talks about is health and schools – but as I see it Labour has been in power for three years and should have tackled these anyway. Theres been no mention of how the rural community is going to be moved forward so Im not sure who I will be voting for. *
No one has wooed me enough into giving them my vote.