During the election campaign, I made clear I would support British farming – an industry that is so integral to South West Norfolk.
To honour that commitment, this week I defied my party whip by abstaining on motion 50 of the budget.
Motion 50 was essentially voting through the changes to Agricultural Property Relief which I have been raising concerns about since last year.
I do not like voting against the whip. I am proud to be a Labour MP and a rural Labour MP at that, and I believe in collective responsibility.
But, I have met with dozens of farmers from across South West Norfolk, I feel their pain and understand clearly the challenges. Challenges that would be made worse with APR changes.
I was fortunate to be able to speak in the debate and outline how the farming industry is in crisis.
