Paice: Upbeat and bullish

Hostility to Labour in the countryside could see rural voters swing back behind the Conservatives, James Paice has said.

Speaking to ePolitix.com, the shadow agriculture secretary said farmers were also giving their backing to the party's policies.

"There is massive disillusionment with Labour in the countryside," he said.

"People feel that Labour do not understand rural issues, and frankly treat farmers and country people with contempt."

After spending Friday meeting farmers in north Wales, Paice said that the mood was upbeat.

"From my contacts and the various constituencies I have been in, the mood is extremely positive and very bullish," he said.

"We have very high hopes of gaining some seats in Wales this time."

He also told this website that there was a "very loud and clear message from all over the country, particularly in rural areas" that the public wants a change of government.

"The countryside is crying out for a change of government and they are going to get it," he said.

"Obviously they [voters] are very disillusioned with Labour and there is real hostility to the Labour Party.

"But there is also a positive belief in what the Conservative Party is offering in terms of the removal of the burdens of regulation, in terms of changing the law about food and food labelling so people genuinely know where their food has come from, in terms of our proposals to shift the balance of power in the food market more towards farmers - all these things are music to the ears of rural people and they want to support us."

Asked whether more rural seats would turn blue on May 5, Paice replied: "Yes, I do believe that. I hope so and I think it will happen from all my experience."