MP brokers summit between farmers' president and Deputy Prime Minister

South Lakes MP Tim Farron arranged a meeting late last week between the President of the National Farmers' Union, Peter Kendall and the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, to discuss current major farming issues.

Tim and Peter raised a variety of issues with Nick Clegg, most importantly the need for the UK to improve its food productivity and for reform of the CAP to be targeted at helping British farmers to produce more food. Tim and Peter also emphasised the need for the government to legislate to bring in the new Grocery Codes Adjudicator as soon as possible.

Speaking after the meeting Tim said: "With demand for food likely to increase by 70% over the next 40 years it is essential that we start acting now, while decisions are being made about the next stage of the European Common Agricultural Programme so that the money available is spent on helping our farmers to produce more food. We must have enough farming capacity to meet demand. This is especially important for hard pressed livestock and dairy farmers in Cumbria.

"I'm extremely glad that Nick has weighed in on this important issue and that he has listen to both Peter's and my concerns surrounding CAP reform and the need to bring about legislation to introduce the Grocery Codes Adjudicator as soon as possible to help protect our farmers so that they can start building their food production capacity for the future."