Gove must listen to farmers, warns Farron

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has warned that the new DEFRA Secretary Michael Gove must "listen to farmers more than he listened to teachers", or risk putting the livelihoods of farmers at risk.

Former Education Secretary Michael Gove MP was appointed Secretary of State for DEFRA in Theresa May's cabinet reshuffle following the General Election.

Tim said: "Gove must listen to farmers more than he listened to teachers, or he will put the livelihoods of local farmers at risk.

"Nobody expects politicians to be experts in everything, but it is vital that he listens to experts and to those who are actually involved in British farming.

"The government is about to embark on a new national agricultural policy to replace the Common Agricultural Policy, and this will have massive implications for the future of British farming.

"If Gove only listens to lobby groups in London and fails to listen to farmers in places like Cumbria, we run the risk of losing payments which are a lifeline for many local farmers."