Countryside Alliance Rural Reception 2020

On the day that the Chancellor announced the Budget, the Countryside Alliance hosted a Rural Reception in the Houses of Parliament. The event, hosted by Greg Smith MP for Buckingham, was well attended by MPs. The Secretary of State for Wales made a special appearance as well as many new MPs eager to learn more about the Countryside Alliance, our work, and how we can work together. Our Chairman, Rt. Hon. Nick Herbert made an excellent speech about the challenges that rural communities face.

As ever we talked about the issues in the countryside and the joys of shooting, hunting and fishing. We made new friends and together we will continue to work for the countryside to make sure Government and Parliament listen to the needs of rural communities.

The reception was a continuation of our parliamentary engagement. For the past 3 months, I and James Legge, Head of Political, have met with a number of MPs, mostly new, all with an appetite to work together to deliver for the countryside. In the process we have made many new friends in Parliament and I am sure we will continue to make more once the doors are reopened.

Significantly, we as an organisation can all work together to make sure rural MPs know about the issues in the countryside and know about the concerns that we as a community face. Indeed you will have seen, and taken part in, the Rural Crime Survey that will inform MPs of the priorities in the countryside. The recent Budget announcement to tackle fly-tipping is a result of our voice being heard and the Government taking action. The extra support for gigabit broadband in hard to reach places and business rates reform are further examples of our voice being heard.

Of course, our activities will not stop. We will continue to fight for the countryside and make sure the Government understands the needs of rural communities and hears our voice in these extraordinary times.