The Countryside Alliance welcomes the Government’s commitment to delivering a strong economy, increased productivity and thriving communities. However, these cannot be achieved without recognising the vital role the countryside has to play. The countryside is key to boosting our productivity and addressing the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.
A successful rural economy is vital for maintaining a living and working countryside. Without it there would not be the rural communities and landscapes as we know them today. It is therefore essential that the people who live and work in the countryside can engage fully in the economic life of the country, especially in our transition to net zero.
There is much within the King’s Speech that can benefit rural communities, but only if those policies are developed having fully assessed the needs of those communities and the impact of policy on the rural economy.
Download and read the Countryside Alliance’s comments on some of the measures announced in the King’s Speech, below.