It was great to welcome the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and David Cameron to North Devon yesterday to meet with local farmers and residents. Our Conservatives manifesto for this election could not be clearer in our continued support for our farming and rural communities. I very much hope to be able to return and continue my work at Westminster on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee to ensure that legislation is effectively scrutinised so that we deliver the best for our rural way of life here in North Devon. My maiden speech was made in a farming debate where I spoke of farmers as custodians of the countryside. And long may that continue! The opposition know nothing about rural Britain and their manifesto shows how little they care about our farmers, fishermen and countryside.
