Toby Perkins MP, who was named last week as the new Shadow Minister for Nature and Rural Affairs, showed his support for British farmers by wearing a wheatsheaf pin badge in the House of Commons. Toby also joined other MPs at a special celebration event in Parliament to mark ‘Back British Farming Day.”

Toby said, “I’m very pleased that one of my first events as the Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs was to join the NFU, and so many of my colleagues, to celebrate and back British Farmers. British farmers produce some of the highest quality food in the world and with a much lower carbon footprint than imported produce. Farmers are vital to our economy, with food and farming worth more than £127 billion to the UK economy and employing over four million people across the UK.”

The Back British Farming Day was set up by the NFU to highlight to MPs the importance of British food and farming. The emblem of Back British Farming Day is a wheatsheaf pin badge made of wool and wheat sourced from UK farms. MPs are wearing them in Parliament this week to show their support for the campaign.

A recent survey commissioned by the NFU showed that public rank farming as one of the most favourable occupations, second only to nursing. The survey also showed that 88% of people thought it is important to maintain or increase the UK’s food self-sufficiency.

Toby added, “It was fantastic to see so many MPs wearing the wheatsheaf pin in the House today and showing their support for British farmers. We know here in Derbyshire how important farming to local communities and the management of our countryside. It has been a very challenging few years for the country but British farmers have continued to provide food for our tables. I will be doing all I can to ensure British farming and food production is supported to thrive and grow.”