The Countryside Alliance hosted a landmark event in Westminster yesterday, bringing together senior politicians and rural representatives to launch its Campaign for the Countryside, calling on the government to reset its relationship with rural Britain.

The event saw people and organisations from across rural Britain — including farming, rural businesses, horseracing, greyhound racing, shooting, hunting and angling. Speakers included senior politicians from across the political spectrum — including former Prime Minister David Cameron (Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton) and former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett (Lord Blunkett) who called on the government to seize the opportunity for a genuine rural reset.

Opening the event, Lord Herbert of South Downs, chairman of the Countryside Alliance said, "none of us should have to be here…but we’re here because the challenges and threats to the countryside have never been so great."

He warned politicians who “obsess” over restricting trail hunting, shooting and racing are “completely out of step with the public’s priorities”. “What will people say, when they just want a decent job, an affordable home, a good school for their children, safe streets and healthcare when they need it – and our politicians say, sorry, we’re just too busy re-running the ban on hunting or having a go at your flutter on the Grand National?”.

He urged everybody “who cares about the countryside”, to sign up to the Campaign for the Countryside and send a message directly to the Prime Minister and local MP using its e-lobby platform.

In his speech, former Prime Minister Lord Cameron said that he “learned a lot of lessons as Prime Minister…one of them was never to forget the importance of rural Britain.” He added that there is “no national security unless you have food security”, criticising “stupid moves such as the family farm tax” as putting this at risk.

Describing the proposed ban on trail hunting as “completely wrong”, he urged people from across rural Britain to unite and appreciate that policies that damage one area of the countryside damage the countryside as a whole.

On the government's call for evidence on game shooting in England, he warned further crackdowns risk eroding all facets of rural life including pubs and local services. He urged the countryside to: “Stand together, fight together and we’ll win together.”

Lord Blunkett expressed the need for urban and rural communities to work together, stating “urban and rural are one and the same”. Describing both the family farm tax and proposed ban on trail hunting as “mistakes”, the former Home Secretary stressed the alignment between Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s focus on “family, community and place” and the Campaign for the Countryside.

Former NFU President Baroness Batters said that Britain's food self-sufficiency is “plummeting”, at a time when the phrase “food security is national security” is widely used but is not being backed by government action. She argued “the countryside doesn't want to strike; it doesn’t want to protest. All it really wants is for the Prime Minister to succeed – to work with us, not against us”.

A recent analysis by the Countryside Alliance revealed that since 2024, there have been 27 harmful policies that negatively impact rural communities, including the family farm tax, affordability checks on horse and greyhound racing, increases to firearms licensing fees, and plans to ban trail hunting. New polling conducted by ORB on behalf of the organisation found just 15% of those living in rural communities agreeing that the Labour party cares about the people that live and work there.

But the findings also point to a clear opportunity for the government. Over a quarter (28%) of rural residents said they would be more likely to vote Labour if the party resets its relationship with those communities. This was particularly true for voters in Wales and Scotland. Nationally, 24% of all voters said the same.

The Countryside Alliance will be sending a letter to the Prime Minister today, calling on him to listen to rural people and reset the government's relationship with the countryside. All eyes will be on No. 10  to see what happens next.

Learn more and add your voice here