Neil O’Brien, MP for Harborough, recently met with local constituency farmers in Lubenham. At the meeting, local farmers and members of the National Farmers Union (NFU) mentioned a wide range of issues, including Brexit arrangements and rural crime in particular.
Farmers raised the issue of the Government’s published no-deal tariffs, and the impact this would have on domestic farmers and their ability to compete with imported meat. On the back of this, Neil raised this issue in Parliament with Michael Gove MP, the Minister responsible for no-deal planning across all Government Departments.
Neil also committed to reaching out to the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner to share farmers’ concerns regarding rural crime.
Neil said, “I was pleased to hear the Minister commit to updating the no-deal tariffs, and speak of specifically of agri-food as a vulnerable sector that required additional protection. This is something I will continue to raise in Parliament on behalf of farmers who play such an important role across Harborough.
Rural crime is also a hugely important issue that I will be raising on the behalf of local farmers. I was able to join one of our local Harborough Officers out across many of the villages recently and know how hard they work across the constituency. Leicestershire police are due to recruit over 100 officers in the coming months and then more on top as part of the Prime Minister’s pledge for 20,000 new officers across the country. I look forward to working with the police locally and the Home Officers Ministers to ensure Harborough and Leicestershire get a fair share of this additional resourcing.”
