| Campaigns, Consultation and Lobbying, Latest News, Press Release
The Countryside Alliance has told a House of Lords inquiry that rural voices are not being listened to early enough when decisions are being taken in Whitehall and called for political will to make ‘rural proofing’ a reality. Chief Executive, Tim Bonner, and Head of Policy, Sarah Lee, gave evidence to a House of Lords…
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| Campaigns, Consultation and Lobbying
The Countryside Alliance sent a briefing note to all MPs in Westminster ahead of the first debate in Parliament on the Government’s Agriculture Bill on Wednesday 10 October. The Bill will set out the framework for a new agricultural policy outside the EU. Defra Secretary, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, called it the first comprehensive…
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| Consultation and Lobbying, Our Blog
Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Tim Bonner writes: Whilst Brexit and Boris continued to hog the headlines at Conservative party conference this week the Alliance ensured that rural affairs got plenty of exposure as well. On Monday we asked a hugely qualified panel whether the Conservatives represent the countryside, and later tackled the myths surrounding animal…
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| Campaigns, Consultation and Lobbying, Latest News, Press Release
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, told delegates at the Conservative Party Conference that sustaining upland landscapes and communities is “absolutely” a public good and will receive financial support under a new agricultural policy post Brexit. Speaking at the Countryside Alliance fringe event on Monday 1st October…
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| Campaigns, Consultation and Lobbying, Latest News, Press Release
Head of Campaigns, Liam Stokes, told delegates at the Labour conference on 24 September that the party does not speak for rural Britain and warned them not to conflate animal rights with rural issues if they want to win in rural areas. Speaking at the Countryside Alliance fringe event at the annual Labour conference, Liam…
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| Consultation and Lobbying, Latest News, Uncategorised
From 1 October this year new laws will apply to five activities involving animals in England: Selling animals as pets; Providing for or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs; Hiring out horses; Dog breeding; and Keeping or training animals for exhibition The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations…
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NRW worry about “reputational risk” as Minister orders the Board to ignore science and evidence at their forthcoming meeting. The papers set out for this Thursday’s (20th September) Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Board meeting have revealed a deep concern within NRW about the risk to their reputation, following an instruction from the Minister for Environment…
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| Campaigns, Consultation and Lobbying, Latest News
The Countryside Alliance held meetings with the Liberal Democrat spokespeople for the environment, food and rural affairs, Tim Farron MP and Baroness Bakewell, at the party’s annual conference in Brighton on 17 September. The Alliance’s policy and political team discussed a range of rural issues with the Lib Dem politicians, including rural broadband, moorland management,…
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| Campaigns, Consultation and Lobbying, Latest News, Press Release
A major report into the UK’s future immigration policy has published a report setting out the importance of seasonal workers from Europe to farming but has stopped short of calling for a new seasonal agricultural workers scheme to be introduced. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), the body tasked by the Government to provide advice on…
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| Campaigns, Consultation and Lobbying, Latest News, Press Release
Research shows 70% of Countryside Alliance members and supporters state that digital infrastructure/connectivity is the key to unlocking the potential of the rural economy. The research comes as part of the Countryside Alliances submission of evidence to the House of Lords inquiry into the rural economy. The special House of Lords Select Committee is examining…
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| Campaigns, Consultation and Lobbying, Latest News, Press Release
The Countryside Alliance has set out five principles that should be at the heart of a new British agricultural policy to replace the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. The Government has been consulting on plans to introduce a UK policy framework for agriculture with specific policies for a new system of support in England post Brexit….
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Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Tim Bonner writes: It is a strange truth that many organisations and institutions deal entirely differently with issues in the countryside to the way they would in a town or city. Just try dressing up with your friends in paramilitary gear and a balaclava for a trip to your local football…
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