Countryside Alliance Rural Manifesto

Monday, 12 April 2010 12:00 AM



A vibrant countryside needs five key changes

HOUSING: Promote local solutions to the lack of affordable rural housing
EDUCATION: Enable all children to gain a practical understanding of the countryside
FARMING: Support British farmers and producers
COUNTRY PURSUITS: Repeal the Hunting Act and champion country pursuits
SERVICES: Ensure an accessible and reliable rural transport network

Our countryside is a national treasure admired around the world but it is also a home and workplace for millions of Britons. Yet those who live and work there can be forgiven for feeling at times that it does not receive the political support it deserves.

Divisive politics, media misrepresentation and a lack of understanding can create a gap between rural and urban areas. Yet there should be no conflict over "town or country". The challenge is doing the best for both town and country.

I represent an inner-city constituency in Parliament but grew up on a farm in Northern Ireland, so I can see both "sides". That explains why I am such a strong advocate of the Countryside Alliance's aims and ideals.

In the ten years since the Alliance was formed, its campaigns have had a significant impact on the political landscape and made it Channel 4 News' "Political Campaigner of the Decade". It has built its reputation around inspiring people. This manifesto is based on what they say in their hundreds of thousands - people from all walks of life, united by their love of the countryside and their desire to see it survive and thrive.

The Alliance believes that rural needs, just like urban needs, are about basic rights. Rural people have the right to equality of healthcare, service provision and decent affordable housing. The right for farmers and other rural businesses to compete in fair markets at home and abroad. The right to engage in country pursuits and other activities free from discrimination or prejudice.

This manifesto flags up several key issues which truly matter to individuals and groups within rural communities. These are issues that genuinely affect peoples' lives in the countryside right now. They provoke passion, idealism, energy, anger and frustration. They put people on the street, inspire them to participate and ultimately drive them to vote in large numbers.

There are many pieces to the rural jigsaw but this is a manifesto for today - to help change lives for the better. It is about creating a positive mood for the country as much as enacting laws. There are other issues but there is a sense of urgency about those selected for this manifesto.

Our aims are deliberately realistic and achievable. In these challenging times a vital, working and thriving countryside for the benefit of the whole nation is more necessary than ever.

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