Lib Dem leader asks PM to help Devon farmers, as his party set their sights on Honiton and Tiverton by-election

The leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has asked the Prime Minister about the rising costs for Devon farmers.

In yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions, Davey urged the Prime Minister to convene an urgent meeting with farming leaders to discuss the spiralling costs facing farmers across Devon.

He said: "British farmers are the best in the world. They could be a big part of the answer of how families put food on the table in this cost-of-living emergency.

"But from Caithness to Cumbria, from Shropshire to Devon, farmers are seeing their own costs spiral: animal feed up sixty percent. Fertiliser prices more than doubled.

"So will the Prime Minister meet with farming leaders and myself, to understand the extreme challenges they are facing, so our farmers can do their bit to help families and pensioners put food on the table?"

The Prime Minster replied that he was doing much to abate the rising costs and he was also championing UK farmers and producers, which had a 'fantastic' export market and 73 trade deals to exploit.

He said he would be happy to attend a meeting with Davey.

It comes as the Liberal Democrats prepare to fight in the Honiton and Tiverton by-election, which is scheduled for June 23. The party are feeling confident after their win in the traditionally Conservative seat in Shropshire in December 2021.

The party believe that they are in a strong position to take Honiton and Tiverton, which has always returned a Conservative MP.

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