Senior Tories in the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales have expressed dismay over the decision not to invite shadow agriculture spokesman Tim Yeo to address the union at its conference on Wednesday. Agriculture minister Nick Brown and Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy will be speaking.

NFU member and the Tory leader of Kent County Council, Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, urged the president of the NFU to reconsider "otherwise you will find long-standing members of the NFU will reconsider their membership".

The NFU noted that allowing Nick Brown to make a speech was a courtesy extended to Conservative ministers when they were in power.