The newly elected Tory government has already come under pressure to act on promises made ahead of voting on Thursday.

The Conservatives made controversial concessions to hunters and farmers who helped them win last week, and who have already stated that they expect the new government to deliver.

Commenting on the election of the first majority Conservative government since 1992, NFU president Meurig Raymond said, “We welcome the fact the election has delivered a stable government and we hope this will mean that crucial farming issues are dealt with rapidly from the outset.”

Raymond backed the government’s plans to ‘grow more, buy more and sell more British food at home and abroad.’ He said, “We have already argued strongly that we need such a plan to reverse long- term declines in farming productivity and the nation’s self-sufficiency. So we are eager to begin working as soon as possible with the Secretary of State to begin this task.”

The NFU urged the government to maintain a focus on the first BPS scheme, as the deadline for submissions is just over a month away (15th June). The scheme has caused confusion and concern amongst farmers, after a number of technical troubles resulted in the Rural Payments Agency going back on plans for ‘digital by default’ submissions and supplying farmers with paper forms.

The NFU had pledged to launch a legal challenge against Labour’s plans to abandon badger culling, including the two trial culls being conducted in the South-West as part of the coalition government’s bovine TB Eradication Strategy. However, having previously said that no decision would be made on badger culling until after the general election, Defra secretary Liz Truss promised that a Conservative government would roll out the controversial policy to new areas.

Holding the party to its promise in the wake of Friday’s victory, Mr Raymond said, “We are also urging the Government to make an announcement as soon as possible on further roll-out of badger culling to areas where TB in endemic.”

Having enlisted the help of the Countryside Alliance in campaigning ahead of the 2010 general election with the promise of a free vote on the 2004 Hunting Act, the Conservatives opted not to pursue this while they ruled in coalition with the Lib Dems. Though they still only enjoy a narrow majority in the new Parliament, senior Conservatives promised to deliver on all manifesto promises over the weekend.

Reacting to the election result, Barney White-Spunner, executive Chair of the Countryside Alliance, made mention of the Alliance’s members who took part in online lobbying and said, “We come to this new parliament well equipped to continue pushing for those priorities, including on wildlife management, digital communications and food & farming.”

White-Spunner added, “I will be pursuing [these pressing issues] at the earliest opportunity. We will write to all parliamentarians in the coming week and will continue to speak up for the interests of our members and supporters.”

Further announcements of Cabinet appointments are expected over the course of the day.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives have been warned that their divisive policy plans are likely to see conflict worsen in the countryside, as anti-cull groups pledge to step up their campaign.