ON FRIDAY, Harlow MP Chris Vince joined representatives of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) to meet with local farmers in Hatfield Broad Oak, now part of the Harlow constituency, to discuss the challenges they face and how he, as their local MP, can support them.

Chris Vince said: ‘I would like to thank the NFU for organising this meeting and for all the farmers who attended for taking time out of their busy day to talk to me about the challenges that they face. This is my first meeting with the farming community since my election in July [Chris did meet with members of the West Essex cluster in advanced of the election] and it was really useful for me to better understand the issues that farmers in my constituency face.

“This Labour government has pledged to put food security as one of it’s key focuses and we know that only by listening to farmers and working together can we achieve our aims. One of my key concerns is around rural crime, with the NFU identifying Essex as being one of the worst counties in the country for this issue, and something that I am committed to tackle as an MP.’

“After the meeting Chris was joined by farmers and NFU representatives on a tour of one of Hatfield Broad Oak’s arable farms to better understand these issues and challenges”.