The Montgomeryshire team of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has taken the farming story to Westminster in a bid to showcase the importance of agriculture and food production, as well as providing an opportunity to showcase Montgomeryshire demonstrating the sheer quality and diversity of its produce, producers and organisations.
Working jointly with Craig Williams, Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire, the Union and exhibitors had a successful ‘Montgomeryshire Day', which was hosted in the Jubilee Room in the House of Commons on Wednesday 6 December 2023.
Joining the FUW for the event were The British Wool Marketing Board, Montgomeryshire YFC, Cakes and Bakes, Craig Farm Organics, Vintage Land Rover Tours, Get Jerky, LunchLocker and Mid Wales Tourism.
The delegation enjoyed an evening at the Wales Office (Tuesday 5 December 2023), meeting with Minister of State forthe Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Mark Spencer MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Barclay MP, and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Wales Office Fay Jones MP.
FUW President Ian Rickman said: “I would like to thank Craig Williams for the excellent opportunity to bring not just the story of farming and Montgomeryshire right into the heart of London, but also providing members with an opportunity to speak to Ministers about the farming matters that are of concern to them.”
Union officials also met with Steve Reed MP, Shadow Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the Wednesday morning, discussing funding commitments, the importance of farming to the rural economy and wider manifesto commitments including the need for food security, and Jo Stevens MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales to discuss the Unions key asks looking ahead to a possible General Election.
In the afternoon, following Prime Minister's Questions, Montgomeryshire Day welcomed guests to taste Montgomeryshire produce and speak to producers and Union officials about wider farming matters. Union President Ian Rickman also welcomed the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, highlighting the concerns farmers have in Wales.
Speaking after the event, The Rt Ho. Craig Williams MP said: “It was a pleasure to welcome all of our exhibitors and guests to Westminster. Our aim was to showcase Montgomeryshire and promote a county that is filled with wondrous landscapes and blessed with so many successful businesses, from small to large scale.
“I would like to pay tribute to everyone who has been involved in Montgomeryshire Day, and in particular to everyone who has travelled to London. Finally, a massive thank you to the Farmers’ Union of Wales, who have been instrumental in pulling the event together.”
FUW Montgomeryshire CEO, Emyr Wyn Davies, said: “Montgomeryshire Day provided an excellent opportunity to showcase our agricultural and rural talents in the House of Commons, whilst also showing those MP’s not representing a Welsh constituency what we have to offer.
“As a Union we know that family farms in particular are at the heart of our rural economy, caring for our landscapes and of course our culture, and they make innumerable other contributions to the well-being of Wales and the UK. That was clearly visible at Montgomeryshire Day and members across the Union will be pleased to know that their Union stressed the importance of a thriving, sustainable, farming sector in Wales with everyone they spoke to during the course of the event.”