Labour is a threat to the future of rural communities, according to the Lead Conservative candidate for Monmouthshire and Torfaen

In recent years, farmers have had to contend with the Sustainable Farming Scheme, Keir Starmer’s Family Farm Tax, the Welsh Government’s inability to tackle bovine TB and their damaging NVZ regulations.

So far, the Welsh Conservatives are the only party to have set out a dedicated and credible plan for agriculture.

The Welsh Conservatives have a range of clear, ambitious plans to revive Wales’ agricultural industry and reverse the damaging policies imposed by Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats:

· A £100m boost to the farming budget.

· Campaign to Axe the Family Farm Tax.

· Review the SFS with the industry to make sure it is workable.

· A science-led TB eradication programme tackling TB in livestock and wildlife.

· Scrapping the Wales-wide NVZ and ending “farming by calendar” to deliver a targeted catchment approach to regulation.

· New procurement rules to promote Welsh food and drink.

Commenting, Lead Candidate, Peter Fox said: “Welsh farmers are the backbone of our rural economy, but they are being let down by Labour and Plaid’s failure to understand and support the sector.

“From rising costs to damaging regulations, confidence in the future of farming is being undermined.

“The Welsh Conservatives have a credible plan to support our farmers, delivering a much-needed boost to a sector neglected for far too long.

“We will always be guardians of the countryside, standing up for our farmers, defending their way of life and standing up to Labour.”

Nine political parties and two independent candidates will contest the new Sir Fynwy Torfaen constituency - Monmouth and Torfaen combined - at May’s Senedd election on May 7.

Peter Fox is lead candidate for the Welsh Conservatives