SOMERSET MP Rachel Gilmour (Lib Dem, Tiverton & Minehead) has been elected to a top role representing farmers in Parliament.

Mrs Gilmour will be co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Farming, which highlights and raises concerns of the industry.

And she said she was “delighted” to be elected to the role for next year, alongside Terry Jermy (Lab, South West Norfolk), having already served as vice chair.

Previously director of communications for the National Farmers’ Union and head of strategy for the Environment Agency, Mrs Gilmour has a vast experience of farming and the issues surrounding it.

In her constituency, which spans Somerset and Devon, the politician has been working with farmers to campaign against the Family Farm Tax, as well as pushing for more government support to tackle the huge increase in rural crime.

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This week, Mrs Gilmour supported plans to safeguard Britain’s food security by launching a Farm First training scheme, inspired by Teach First, to encourage more young people into the industry.

“As the co-chair of this influential APPG, alongside Labour MP for South West Norfolk Terry Jermy, I will be able to set out and pursue an ambitious agenda to support my farmers in the Tiverton and Minehead constituency over the next year,” she said.

“Over the next few weeks, my office will be sending all my farmers a short survey to ensure that the APPG focuses on the issues that really matter and affect them.

“As always, my message to my farmers across Tiverton and Minehead is that I will always support them. I have your backs, and I look forward to working hard to make your voices heard.”

READ MORE: Farming news from your Somerset Leveller