“Diminishing public services, inadequate infrastructure, and housing which has become increasingly unaffordable resulting in hidden poverty and ageing communities.” [Rural Services Network]
“The farming vote is ‘up for grabs’ by all political parties ahead of the general election.” [NFU President Tom Bradshaw]
“The decline of the UK’s natural environment… must play a major role in this year’s general election.” [National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts and Woodland Trust]
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Over the weekend, the i-news ran a front page story in which the country’s ‘biggest’ environment charities warned that “every UK political party is failing to tackle crisis facing nature.”
Every political party is failing to tackle a crisis that has left the UK as “one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world”, the leaders of four major charities have warned. In a joint op-ed for i, the CEOs of the National Trust, RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts and Woodland Trust, sounded the alarm over the decline of the UK’s natural environment, which they say must play a major role in this year’s general election. UK species have declined by 19 per cent on average since the 1970s, with one in six species currently at risk of extinction, a landmark report published last year by the Government in collaboration with non-governmental organisations found.
Also over the weekend, the NFU highlighted the importance of Devon farms – with plenty of politics at the 2024 Devon County Show:
At the show, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said the farming vote is ‘up for grabs’ by all political parties ahead of the general election. He said: “It is now down to political parties to deliver the policies that are going to rebuild farmers’ confidence and are going to make farmers believe that they have a vibrant future. What we need is the policies that will underpin the vibrant, thriving farming sector that we all want to see in the future. With the general election coming up, we are at an absolutely pivotal time and it is crucial that politicians from all parties go out to farms so farmers can talk them through their challenges and give them an understanding of how to move this industry forward.”
Also at the show, Jess Chaffey visited the Devon Young Farmers Club tent to listen to their agri-debate about ‘green’ farming – and they were lucky enough to have Farming Minister Mark Spencer join for a bit:
The topic of the Devon YFC debate was: ‘The Green Gamble/Will having greener schemes impact food prices?’ The panel was chaired by David Furdson, and speakers included Claire Quick, Ben May, Andy Grey and Richard Stanbury. In their opening remarks, the speakers commented on environmental schemes and whether these will have an impact on food production. Ben said that we must embrace environmental schemes, but also make sure that prime agricultural land is not used to plant wildflower meadows – instead of grow food. I then spoke with NFU Livestock Board Chair David Barton, who shared his views on the future of farming. To read the interview, click here.
Finally, the Rural Services Network remarks that the next government must not leave rural communities behind:
Diminishing public services, inadequate infrastructure, and housing which has become increasingly unaffordable resulting in hidden poverty and ageing communities…
A glimpse of the East Devon countryside – geograph.org.uk – 1451327.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
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