Farmers protest as Keir Starmer says he will defend budget ‘all day long’ | Agriculture

Keir Starmer said he would defend the budget “all day long” at the Welsh Labor conference, amid protests from farmers outside the venue.

In his first speech to the Welsh Labor conference since taking power, the Prime Minister went on to hail a “path of change” with the Labor governments in Wales and Westminster.

“Make no mistake, I will defend our decisions in the budget all day long,” he said. “I will advocate facing the harsh light of fiscal reality.

“I will defend the tough decisions that would be needed to stabilize our economy and I will defend protecting the paychecks of working people, fixing the foundations of our economy and investing in the future of Britain and the future of Wales, finally turning the page on austerity once and for all.”

However, angry farmers staged a tractor protest outside the conference opposing the inheritance tax changes the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, unveiled in the Budget last month.

A tractor convoy was escorted by police to Venue Cymru in Llandudno, where the conference is being held.

Protest organizers Digon yw Digon said: “Enough is enough. Our government is not working or listening to us. This is an opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers and rural areas.

“We encourage everyone to take part in solidarity – whether by walking, driving or bringing agricultural vehicles such as tractors, slurry tankers, trucks or 4x4s with trailers.”

Gareth Wyn Jones, a Welsh farmer and YouTuber, told Sky News the government was “ruining” an industry that was already struggling.

He said Farmers plans to deliver Starmer a letter that starts with the words “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”

He said: “They are destroying an industry that is already on its knees and struggling, absolutely struggling, mentally, emotionally and physically. We need government support, not more hindrance, so we can produce food to feed the nation.”

He also said that changes to Inheritance Tax will result in farmers increasing the price of food, adding: “The poorer people in society will not be able to afford good, healthy and nutritious British food, so we need to push this to the government for them to understand that enough is enough, the farmers cannot take more of what they throw at us.”

Meanwhile, Starmer confirmed a £160m investment zone in Wrexham and Flintshire by 2025.

During a visit to Airbus in North Wales on Friday with Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan, Starmer said it was a “game changer” to have Labor governments in both Wales and Westminster.

He said communities in Wales and across the UK were ready for an exciting new era where “Labour Wales and Labor Britain” are once again pulling in the same direction and serving the people of Wales with “the full force of our union”.

Lady Morgan, who took over as Welsh Labor leader in August, touted the “power of partnership” between two Labor governments working together to deliver for the people of Wales.

She announced £22m to tackle NHS waiting lists in Wales, on top of £28m already promised, while the Prime Minister described the £21bn 2025 budget allocation for Wales revealed last month as “a record figure”.