The National Farming Union (NFU) has drawn up a list of the top 30 constituencies to watch that involve farming in the upcoming election.
The 30 key constituencies—and ‘one to keep watching'—have been chosen based on where farmers are standing; where candidates are standing who have influenced the farming agenda or might influence it in the future; and where the farming vote could influence the outcome.
The NFU will be tracking the constituencies, offering analysis and commentary and exploring the key issues. On election night, the NFU will have online hour-by-hour analysis.
Julie Robinson, the NFU's acting head of Government and Parliamentary affairs, said: ‘The results of the election will be key for the many issues affecting our farmers and growers.
‘They need strong political backing if they're to play their part in tackling the global challenges of increasing population, dwindling resources and climate change.
‘For our industry to thrive, we need to see farming and growing at the heart of policy-making. The "30 to watch" seats we're identified include many of the rural constituencies that are marginal and could make all the difference to the result come election night on May 6.'
The NFU's '30 to watch' constituencies are (in alphabetical order): 1. Arundel and South Downs 2. Brecon and Radnorshire 3. Brigg and Goole 4. Brighton Pavilion 5. Buckingham 6. Camborne and Redruth 7. South East Cambridgeshire 8. Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire 9. Chippenham 10. Copeland 11. Gedling 12. Grantham and Stamford 13. Leeds Central 14. Ludlow 15. Meirionnydd Dwyfor 16. Newbury 17. Mid Norfolk 18. Penrith and The Border 19. Poplar and Limehouse 20. Richmond Park 21. Selby and Ainsty 22. Somerton and Frome 23. Stafford 24. Staffordshire Moorlands 25. Stroud 26. Tiverton and Honiton 27. Torridge and West Devon 28. Waveney 29. Westmorland and Lonsdale 30. York Outer
The NFU's ‘one to keep watching' constituency is Thirsk and Malton, where the election has been countermanded to May 27 following the death of UKIP candidate John Boakes.
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