Farmers are facing a flooding threat from record rainfall (Image: GETTY)
Tory MPs have urged the Labour government to take action over the threat of flooding to farmers.
Danny Kruger and Jerome Mayhew criticised Sir Keir Starmer's party's plan for farmers and called for the farming budget to be boosted in line with inflation, as they warned of the impact on food prices.
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It comes after England saw a record amount of rainfall in the 18 months to March this year.
East Wiltshire MP Mr Kruger said: “For decades, EU subsidies irresponsibly disincentivised the protection of our natural environment.
"This approach completely forgot about the vital role nature plays in ensuring high yields and production of food, and it left us as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
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“By failing to build natural resilience, EU subsidies have left British farmers more exposed to risks from flooding. Without trees, wetlands and bushes to soak up water, flooding has left farmers unable to sow crops, ultimately forcing food prices even higher.
“Brexit meant we could do away with EU subsidies, and implement new measures that bolster both food production and nature restoration. But Labour’s plan for farmers and the environment is sorely lacking. Only the Conservatives are looking out for farmers and rural communities, as well as our natural environment."
Mr Mayhew, who represents Broadland and Fakenham, added: “Farmers are the custodians of our countryside and the bedrock of our food security.
"However, climate change and the increased flooding it causes, risks making an already challenging job much more difficult.
"The UK has just experienced the wettest 18 months on record, hindering farmers’ ability to grow food.
"As consumers feel the brunt of rising food prices, we must take long-term action. We must improve the resilience of our farmland so it is better able to cope with the more extreme weather events we are beginning to face.
"The last Conservative Government’s post-Brexit farm payment regime empowers farmers to strengthen their soil, helping the land to absorb more water during heavy rainfall.
"But Labour has failed to commit to raising the overall farm budget in line with inflation, unwilling to give farmers the financial backing to continue delivering these changes. If the new government is serious about its goals of nature recovery, food security, and ending the cost of living crisis, it must increase the farm budget to protect farmers from threats like flooding.”
Kitty Thompson, senior nature programme manager at the Conservative Environment Network, said biodiversity loss and climate change are the "biggest medium to long-term threats facing British food security".
She added: “We are already starting to see the impact of both, having just experienced the wettest 18 months on record.
"Unable to sow seeds, let alone have crops to harvest in the autumn, food prices are set to soar.
"Our farmland has lost its natural resilience to flooding and drought, with weaker soils and fewer plants to absorb the water. The Conservatives sought to change this by incentivising farmers to improve both, alongside food production.
"But to ensure as many farmers as possible make these vital changes to their farming practices, the farming budget needs to increase.
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"Labour should commit to increasing the farming budget at least in line with inflation and fund more nature-based solutions to flooding and drought through other means, such as revitalising the Woodlands for Water project which pays for tree planting along rivers.”
A Defra spokesperson said: “Protecting farmland and communities around the country from flooding is a clear priority for this Government, which is why we will be launching a Flood Resilience Taskforce to turbocharge the delivery of flood defences and natural flood management.
“More widely this government is introducing a new deal for farmers to boost Britain’s food security and drive rural economic growth.”