‘The voice of the countryside has not been heard’ | Politics | News
On Monday, representatives from across the countryside gathered in Westminster to send a clear message to the government: it must urgently reset its relationship with rural Britain. There were no tractors or megaphones this time. Farmers, rural business owners, representatives from horseracing, shooting, hunting, angling, and senior politicians from across the political spectrum came together, united, for the landmark launch of the Campaign for the Countryside.
Speaking in front of a banner which simply read โitโs time for a rural resetโ, heavy weight cross-party speakers included former Prime Minister (Lord) David Cameron and former Labour Home Secretary (Lord) David Blunkett who shared a platform to warn that the countryside is facing unprecedented threats.
As Lord Herbert of South Downs, chairman of the Countryside Alliance, powerfully stated in his opening speech, the challenges facing rural communities have never been greater. Yet, while rural people grapple with pressing concerns, such as securing employment, affordable housing, good local schools and accessible healthcare, there is a growing frustration that policymakers remain distracted. Obsessing over restrictions on rural pursuits like trail hunting, shooting and racing is completely out of step with public priorities.
Lord Cameron rightly noted there is no national security without food security. Policies like the controversial Family Farm Tax directly threaten the livelihoods of the men and women that feed us, while further crackdowns on game shooting and rural livelihoods risk eroding the very fabric of village life, from local pubs to vital community services.
The Prime Minister has pledged to speak for all parts of the country. The countryside is ready to help Andy Burnham and the government, namely with the noble aim of securing good growth in every postcode. As Lord Blunkett made clear, urban and rural communities are fundamentally intertwined. The countryside is central to Britainโs prosperity, contributing more than ยฃ300 billion to the economy and supporting over 4 million jobs. It feeds the nation and provides enjoyment for millions.
Yet the voice of the countryside has not been heard.
Recent analysis by the Countryside Alliance reveals that since 2024, rural communities have faced 27 harmful policies, including the Family Farm Tax, National Insurance rises, affordability checks on horse racing as well as plans to ban trail hunting and restrict game shooting. Polling conducted by ORB for the Alliance shows that just 15 percent of rural residents feel the current government cares about the people who live and work there.
However, the same findings also highlight a massive opportunity for the government. Over a quarter of rural residentsโand 24 percent of voters nationallyโsay they would be more likely to support the Labour party if it genuinely resets its relationship with rural communities.
Former NFU President Baroness Batters is right to argue that the countryside โdoesn’t want to strike; it doesnโt want to protestโฆall it really wants is for the Prime Minister to succeed โ to work with us, not against usโ. Rural businesses and communities are ready to play their part. Whatโs needed now is a government willing to work with the countryside – not against it.
The path forward is simple. No one expects Andy Burnham to come up with solutions to the very many problems facing the countryside overnight, but if the government engages constructively with the rural sector and drops the divisive policies, it has an opportunity to achieve good growth in every postcode. It is time to stand together, recognise the immense value of our rural communities and build a secure, thriving future for the countryside.
Mo Metcalf-Fisher is director of external affairs at the Countryside Alliance
