Launching my Election Campaign
I launched my election campaign on this day in Kingsbridge, canvassing in three areas of town around The Warrens, Becketts Road and Trevanna Road.
Uppermost in people's minds was the issue of trust in politicians. Pensions, the NHS and particularly provision for mental health services were all important. The safety of our troops and the future of our involvement in Afghanistan were also raised by several people. I dropped in to afternoon tea in aid of Saltstone Caring to meet Elizabeth Bewley-Jones and Lisa Butcher. Saltstone Caring are an essential local link in Kingsbridge, and they welcome volunteers.
In the afternoon I visited Belle Cross Farm to meet Doug and Jill Horton. A fortnight ago they received the devastating news that three of their herd had tested positive for TB, bringing back memories of losing 86 of their herd between 2006 and 2008. They now face a 60 day testing regime and months, if not years of uncertainty.
The repeated loss of their cattle, low milk prices, and underfunding of compensation have taken a heavy toll on the dairy industry. We are becoming increasingly reliant on foreign milk imports and we are losing our sustainability. If elected, I am firmly committed to tackling the problem of bovine TB, and having met yesterday with the Shadow Secretary of State for Agriculture, Nick Herbert, I am happy to confirm that this is also Conservative Party policy.
I then went on to meet Harry and Jill Kerswell at Bearscombe Farm, who have been farming at Kingsbridge since 1916. On the tour of the farm, I discussed the importance of entry level and higher level stewardship schemes and the geographically challenging nature of farming in the South Hams. Looking across some of the finest countryside in the southwest, it is clear that we all benefit from the care of British farming.
