Liz Truss promises to 'liberate British farming' through deregulation

Liz Truss is committed to "liberating the UK food and farming" to improve the country's food security.

The Conservative leader said she would "cut out onerous EU regulations and red tape" if she becomes Premier minister, without outlining in detail the laws she would abolish.< /p>

She also promised to tackle labor shortages in agriculture, caused in large part by job restrictions. freedom of movement post-Brexit, with a short-term extension of the seasonal worker scheme.

The scheme, first launched in 2019, allows 40,000 foreign workers to enter the UK United for seasonal positions in the horticulture and poultry sectors.

A recent governments report has warned that labor shortages were 'caused by Brexit and exacerbated by the pandemic'

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A recent government report warned that labor shortages "caused by Brexit and heightened by the pandemic" were severely affecting the food and farming sector, often forcing farmers to leave fruit to rot in the fields and slaughter healthy pigs.

Ms Truss said said it would also work to address long-term skills shortages and barriers to adopting labor-saving technologies. The former environment secretary has pledged to replace EU legislation that restricts the development of agricultural infrastructure and technologies, including the use of agricultural drones and precision farming technologies.

< p>Ms Truss, who is due to meet farmers on a campaign stop in the South West of England, said: 'The pandemic and the cost of living crisis have shown that it is more vital than ever for us to ensure a high quality and affordable UK food supply.

" As former Secretary of State for Defra [Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] , I understand the challenges farmers face, and they can trust me to make the changes they need.

“I will reduce the bureaucracy that holds them back and punches them in their pocket.

Meurig Raymond, former president of the National Union of Farmers, said: “I share his vision of a competitive, profitable and sustainable agricultural sector underpinned by investments in the latest technologies and innovations, and a proportionate and flexible budget approach to regulation.

A video of Ms Truss as environment secretary went viral when she gave a rousing speech on opening up pork markets at the Conservative Party Conference in 2014.

Liz Truss won the backing of senior Tory MP Tom Tugendhat

Ms Truss gained momentum in the race for No 10 last week with backing from Ben Wallace, Brandon Lewis and former leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat.

Mr. Tugendhat wrote that Ms Truss was the only candidate ready to become prime minister and unite the party. “These debates showed another side of the two candidates. Only one convinced me she was ready... I support Liz," he wrote.

He added, "Liz's plan for the economy is built on the true conservative principles of low taxes, lean government, and bold supply-side reform."

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