Rishi Sunak makes desperate plea to farmers amid fears rural voters will desert Tories

The Tories insist they are not panicking about losing the support of rural communities

Rishi Sunak made a desperate appeal to famers not to desert the Tories after a poll found the party faces a hammering from rural voters.

Mr Sunak became the first Prime Minister to address the National Farmers Union (NFU) conference in 15 years – since Gordon Brown in 2008. In a speech at the gathering in Birmingham today, he said: “Farming is going through the biggest change in a generation. And as you do so, this Government will be by your side.”

Touting his experience as an MP in rural North Yorkshire, he said farmers work “not for praise or high reward, but to put food on our tables, to maintain a tradition and a way of life, and to steward our landscape”, He added: “On behalf of the nation, I just wanted to say thank you.”

The PM said food was a “vital part of our national security” after criticism that Brexit and soaring costs of fuel and fertilisers triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have put the UK’s ability to feed itself at risk. He announced a new annual index to monitor levels of food security in his speech, which he said would “never be taken for granted”.

Mr Sunak unveiled £220million pot for farmers to invest in new technology such as automation, which could allow robots and drones to harvest crops, as the Government seeks to reduce reliance on overseas workers. The PM also announced a £15million fund to help tackle food waste by enabling farmers to redistribute surplus food that cannot be used commercially.

It comes as the Tories insisted they are not panicking about losing the support of rural communities after a recent poll found the Tories could be decimated in the countryside. The Conservatives hold 96 of the 100 most rural seats in England but polling by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and Survation predicts this could drop to 43 at the next election.

The survey predicted that Labour could take 51 of the 100 seats, with the Lib Dems securing six. Asked if Mr Sunak’s decision to attend the NFU conference was motivated by fear of losing rural voters, Environment Secretary Steve Barclay told LBC: “No… “I think it is important to signal that the whole Government is absolutely focused on food production and food security.

“I think the importance of food security has increased given the volatility around the world.” Mr Barclay’s predecessor Therese Coffey was booed by farmers as she attended the NFU conference last year.