Rural communities ‘in my DNA’ and important to Labour, Starmer tells farmers

Leader targets traditionally Tory voters in persuasive and coherent' address at NFU conference about value of sector and its challenges

• UK politics live - latest news updates

Sir Keir Starmer has told Britain's farmers that rural communities are in his DNA", in a bid to sway the traditionally Tory voters with a promise to govern the whole United Kingdom", not just urban centres.

I grew up in a rural community, on the borders of Surrey and Kent, I lived in a rural community, it's deep in my DNA," the Labour leader told the National Farmers' Union conference in Birmingham on Tuesday.