COLUMN BY SIOBHAN BAILLIE MP. 

Supporting our farmers and producers is an important task for an MP of a largely rural constituency like Stroud.

I have regular meetings with the NFU and famers at local farms, I have had Defra ministers here to discuss issues and concerns and I also volunteer, when my parliamentary duties allow, to help on farms. I love this kind of work.

I help in other ways too. Recently, I signed an open letter to supermarket chief executives calling for them to highlight the very best of produce by incorporating a ‘Buy British’ section online.

Having such a tab on supermarkets’ websites to collate produce from across the UK would help customers make the choice to buy British during their online shop.

I was one of more than 100 MPs to sign the letter organised by my colleague Dr Luke Evans.

Nearly all supermarkets do label British produce on their shelves but for the millions who now do their weekly grocery shop online, it can be difficult to identify British produce.

A ‘Buy British’ tab would make that easier and it would support farmers and producers here in Stroud and across the UK. I hope the supermarket bosses will consider this simple move to make a big difference.  It is also obvious from being at the wonderful Frampton Country Fair this weekend that there is real love for all things countryside so I think this would be popular. 

In further farming news, I am hosting the NFU in parliament for a Back British Farming Day event this week.

Stroud farmers are invited to the event where we are celebrating our farmers and growers and the British food that they provide us with.

Now in its eighth year, it is an important event for the agricultural community. It’s a chance for parliamentarians to say thank you and to discuss the industry with those growing and rearing and for the NFU and farmers to talk about issues.

MPs are also able to publicly demonstrate their support for farming by wearing the NFU’s wool-and-wheatsheaf badge. I will proudly wear mine and back our British farmers in any way I can.