FARMING issues are at the top of the agenda for voters in the North Shropshire by-election, according to the Liberal Democrats.
The vote was triggered after long-serving Conservative MP and former Defra Secretary Owen Paterson stepped down amid a lobbying scandal.
Liberal Democrat rural affairs spokesperson Tim Farron told Farmers Guardian agricultural matters were being continuously raised on the doorstep, with many farmers considering switching their vote from the Conservatives for the first time ever because of discontent with trade policy and the loss of direct support.
He drew a parallel with the Chesham and Amersham by-election in June this year, where the Liberal Democrats overturned a 16,000 Conservative majority and forced the Government to make changes to its planning policy, which had been a big issue during the campaign.
But the Conservative candidate in the North Shropshire by-election, Neil Shastri-Hurst, defended the Government, saying farmers were ‘the heartbeat of the community and economy in North Shropshire' and ‘central to his plan' for the constituency.
The Tories currently have a 22,949 majority in the seat.
Mr Farron said: "Farmers [in North Shropshire] feel they have been taken for granted, whether on trade deals, the phasing out of the Basic Payment Scheme before the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme is properly ready, or just a general sense that farmers are being blamed for climate change, without being given the tools to help to fight it.
"I think there is a real sense that this is an opportunity for farmers to send a message and be heard.
"I do not think North Shropshire has ever had quite so many orange diamonds sticking out of its fields during an election before. It definitely feels like something is happening there."
Mr Shastri-Hurst, however, accused other parties of ‘playing political games'.
"The Conservatives will never compromise on our world-leading standards and will always make sure farmers are properly paid for the work they do as stewards of our natural environment," he said.
"While other parties play political games, the Conservatives are delivering for our farmers with schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which will secure this great industry for future generations."
The by-election will take place on December 16.
