Rural life and farming

Rural life and Farming

Across Beverley and Holderness, rural life is at the heart of our communities.

From family farms to small rural businesses, people work hard to produce food, support jobs, and keep our villages thriving. But many are under growing pressure from rising costs, changing regulations, and uncertainty about the future.

When I speak to farmers and residents across our villages, the message is clear. They want to keep producing high-quality British food, but they need a system that backs them, not one that makes things harder.

Supporting rural life and farming is essential not just for our countryside, but for keeping food prices stable and standards high.

Farming and Food Production

British farming plays a vital role in putting food on our tables.

Farmers across our area take pride in producing high-quality food while maintaining the countryside for future generations. But they are facing rising costs for fuel, feed, and equipment, alongside increasing uncertainty.

We need a clear, practical approach that supports those who produce our food, including:

  • Backing British farmers to maintain strong domestic food production
  • Ensuring fair treatment within the supply chain
  • Providing long-term certainty so farms can plan and invest

Food security matters. Supporting farmers helps keep prices stable for families and protects standards.

Rural Costs and Pressures

Living in rural areas often comes with higher everyday costs.

Many households are not connected to the gas grid and rely on heating oil. Travel is not optional, with people needing to drive to work, school, and essential services. When fuel and energy costs rise, rural communities feel it first.

That is why I continue to raise concerns about policies that risk increasing costs for rural households.

We should focus on:

  • Fair energy support for off-grid homes
  • Recognising the essential role of transport in rural areas
  • Ensuring rural communities are not overlooked in national decisions

Supporting Rural Communities

Villages across Beverley and Holderness are strong, but they rely on the right support to thrive.

Local services, small businesses, and community facilities are essential to daily life. When they come under pressure, it affects everyone.

I will continue to stand up for:

  • Strong local services in rural areas
  • Support for small rural businesses
  • Investment that reflects the needs of villages, not just cities

 

Standing up for rural communities and backing British farming.

If you live or work in a rural area, I want to hear from you. Your experiences matter, and they help shape the case I make in Westminster for practical action that supports farming, protects rural life, and keeps costs down for families.

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News

Community power forces Government U-turn on family farm tax

Graham has welcomed the Government’s decision to reverse course on the family farm tax, saying it is a clear victory for farmers, rural communities, and the power of people speaking out together.The Government announced, in one of its last acts of the year, that it would increase the threshold at wh

Graham launches campaign to save rural Post Offices

Graham has launched a campaign to protect rural Post Offices following a government proposal to abolish the minimum national requirement of 11,500 branches. The campaigning MP has spoken out against the plans outlined in a recent green paper, warning that removing this safeguard could put rural

Graham Visits Easington Primary School to Celebrate ‘Good’ Ofsted Rating 

Graham was welcomed by one of Beverley and Holderness’s smallest schools: the 29-pupil Easington Primary School to see how the rural children of south eastern Holderness are served.  Easington Primary School, led by Mrs Gill Pepper, was rated ‘Needs Improvement’ in 2022 but has made many c

Banking services saved in Withernsea as new Hub opens

Graham Stuart MP opened the new Banking Hub in Withernsea on Friday which will provide vital banking services to businesses and local people across the town. When Lloyds announced in 2023 that they would be closing in Withernsea, the last bank in the town, Graham promised to protect the communi

Graham speaks up for Beverley and Holderness on Question Time in Hull

Graham Stuart MP marked 20 years representing Beverley and Holderness in Parliament by joining the BBC Question Time panel in Hull - just miles from where he won re-election last July by a razor-thin margin of 124 votes.  The veteran local campaigner spoke out on a range of issues affectin