Lib Dem leader Tim Farron meets farming community near Welshpool - with pictures
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron rolled into the region on a whistle stop tour to meet supporters and farmers ahead of the General Election.
He attended events in Shrewsbury and Powys on the campaign trail hoping to win hearts and minds.
During a visit to a sheep and cattle farm in Forden near Welshpool he said every effort should be made to secure the best Brexit deal to benefit the agriculture industry.
Mr Farron also said paying an extra penny on income tax would raise enough cash to pay for adequate health services.
Among the issues raised by around 12 farmers during Mr Farron's whistle stop tour of Pen Y Derw Farm were concerns the effects of leaving the EU and the issues with cattle TB on their businesses.
The party is pushing to regain the Montgomeryshire constituency from Tory incumbent Glyn Davies with the county's Lib Dem candidate Jane Dodds fighting for the seat.
Mr Farron said: "Jane Dodds is an outstanding candidate with a growing reputation in the community. I am not saying that farming is the only issue, but it is a critically important issue not least because the Conservative government is making very serious decisions that are going to damage farmers here in Wales.
"The two things that they are doing with the backing of Labour and the acquiescence of Plaid Cmyru they are taking us out the single market. We've heard here that means between 30 and 60 per cent of tariffs is exports and that will be the absolute death knell of family farming in Wales and other parts of the United Kingdom.
"We must stay in the single market and the Liberal Democrats are fighting for that. Secondly, what happens with direct payments? We have always fought to fight for these payments to help people to maintain their farms - and why winning in places like Montgomeryshire is essential for farming."
On the issue of A&E services in Shropshire and Telford, Mr Farron said: "The closure of A&Es in hospitals generally is all about resources. Lots of people will offer you nice simplistic solutions about solving health and social care problems. We all know that you can't without an influx of money.
"We need to put a penny on income tax for health and social care which would allow us to invest in provision of A& E it's not only about centres of excellence it's also about making sure you have access to emergency services close to home. Distance of travel is hugely important I know that as a Cumbrian MP how far we have to travel to our nearest hospital. In places like this just and on the English side of the border you need services you can get to quickly and safely is critical."
Hill farmer Mark Williams, 38, said: "His visit went really well. He listened and understood our concerns about the importance of the all the issues surrounding the end of the single market. He is from a rural constituency himself so understands some of the challenges that our rural communities face."
